Seven countries booked their spots in September’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals by winning ties around the world this week — and WTA Tour stars Driven by Mercedes-Benz played a big part in the heroics.
The most surprising result of the weekend was recorded by Belgium, who upset the Billie Jean King Cup 18 champions, the United States, in Ostend 3-1. Belgium led 2-0 after Day 1 after the victory of Hanne Vandewinkel and Elise Mertens over Iva Jovic and McCartney Kessler on indoor clay – and the latter were forced to retire due to a sudden injury behind 3-3 in the final stage.
But the hero of the tie ended up saying goodbye to Minnen, who stepped in against Jovic for Mertens on singles after Mertens and Magnali Kempen were defeated by Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in Sunday’s first game to cut the home team in half. The 28-year-old former World No. 59, who is now in place of No. 149, beat Jovic 7-5, 6-3 to send Belgium into the Finals for the first time since 2022.
The US, meanwhile, will miss out on the opportunity to play in the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since the event changed its Finals format to one of a round robin five years ago.
But that wasn’t the only headline of the weekend.
Italy, Ukraine sail to the Finals
Two players in the top 10 in the PIF WTA Rankings competed in the Qualifiers – and they delivered. Jasmine Paolini and Elina Svitolina scored Italy and Ukraine uncomplicated victories over Japan and Poland, respectively, to secure places in Shenzhen.
Two-time defending champions Billie Jean King Cup Italy led 2-0 after the first day of the tie at home in Velletri, as Paolini and Elisabetta Cocciaretto were straight-sets winners, before Paolini and Sara Errani provided a double. World No. 8 Paolini has now won seven consecutive Italian singles and doubles matches, and 10 of his last 11.
In Gliwice, Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk surrendered only seven games in four sets against Magda Linette and Kataryzna Kawa on Friday, before Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok sealed the tie with a 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3 victory over Maja Chwalinska and 2 hours 2 Kub and Martyna. The Twins followed with a break in the final set.
Oleksandra Oliynykova, making her debut for the national team, finished with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Linda Klimovicova. Poland played without the services of Iga Swiatek.
Great Britain upset Australia in Melbourne
Playing without four of its top-100 players — Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Katie Boulter and Francesca Jones — did not stop Great Britain from upsetting Australia 3-1 in Brisbane. 2024 US Open junior champion Mika Stojsavljevic took down the visitors on the right foot with a 7-6 (4) 7-5 7-6 (4) 7-5 World No. 56 Talia Gibson, overturned a 219-place difference in the standings.
Stojsavljevic, 17, said he was “honoured” to be called up by captain Anne Keothavong to the team, even before securing his second match win over a Top 100 player.
“Now, when Anne said I was playing those songs, it was even more amazing,” he continued. “I thought I was ready to do that, and I think more than anything, I proved it today. I’m proud of the way I did it.”
Later, Harriet Dart beat Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to put the Brits up 2-0, and joined Jodie Burrage for a victory against Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez in doubles. Emerson Jones, also 17, beat Katie Swan in the final.
Putintseva won the longest match of 2026 and Noskova denied the elimination of the Czech
Neither Canada nor Kazakhstan were fielding their top 10 stars — Elena Rybakina and Victoria Mboko, respectively — but that didn’t stop Yulia Putintseva and Bianca Andreescu from making the show.
After both won their singles matches on Friday to send the tie into Day 2 even, the 31-year-old Putintseva found herself with a chance to win it for the home team after Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva won doubles to start Saturday. Three hours and 36 minutes later — in the longest match of the 2026 tournament — Putintseva was a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(4) winner to defeat the former US Open champion to send Kazakhstan to Shenzhen.
Putin may have had the longest, but the most impressive victory of the weekend was World No. 14 Linda Noskova in what was ultimately a 3-2 victory for the Czechia over Switzerland. Noskova saved three match points against Belinda Bencic in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9) fourth rubber win, before recent Bogota champion Marie Bouzkova beat Viktorija Golubic 7-6(4), 6-3 in the decider.
Complete Results
Italy explains. Japan, 3-1
Belgium explains. United States, 3-1
Great Britain def. Australia, 3-1
Kazakhstan explains. Canada, 3-1
Spain explains. Slovenia, 3-1
Czechia explains. Switzerland, 3-2
Ukraine explains. Poland, 4-0
#Belgium #shocks #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #finals #Italy #Ukraine #sail #Finals