Belinda Bencic powered Switzerland to a 2-1 victory over the hometown Czechs in Group D while Australia also advanced to the semifinals of the Billie Jean Cup on Thursday in Prague, Czech Republic.
Bencic defeated Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (2), 6-4 in singles before teaming up with Jil Teichmann on a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Lucie Hradecka and Katerina Siniakova in the clinching doubles match.
Marketa Vondrousova defeated Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-2 to force the tiebreaker.
The Aussies knocked out Belarus in Group B. Storm Sanders defeated Yuliya Hatouka 6-3, 6-3, and Ajla Tomljanovic followed with the clincher, rallying to down Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Belarus took the meaningless doubles match 6-4, 6-4.
Switzerland will meet Australia in one semifinals match. The U.S. and Russia will meet in the other.
The competition used to be known as the Fed Cup.
–Field Level Media