Ukraine, Great Britain, Spain advance in BJK Cup qualifying

Ukraine advanced to the Billie Jean Cup Finals for the first time by defeating Switzerland 2-1 on Saturday and clinching Group E in Radom, Poland.

Great Britain and Spain also qualified on Saturday with group-stage victories, joining defending champion Italy and Kazakhstan for the finals in September.

Eighteen nations are competing in six groups of three Thursday through Sunday. The winners of each group will advance to the Billie Jean King Cup finals, joined by host China and Italy. The other 12 teams will then compete in the playoffs to avoid relegation to Group I.

Switzerland's top singles player, Celine Naef, 19, won a battle with Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 7-6 (1), but Elina Svitolina squared the match for Ukraine with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jil Teichmann. It was Svitolina's 17th singles win in the Billie Jean King Cup, tying Elena Tatarkova for the Ukrainian record.

Nadiia Kichenok and Katarina Zavatska decided the match with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 doubles victory over Naef and Susan Bandecchi.

Great Britain (2-0) reached the finals for the third time in four years with a 2-1 win over host the Netherlands in The Hague to clinch Group F. Brit Sonay Kartal went three sets to defeat Eva Veder 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, then Suzan Lamens topped Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-3 to even the match.

Boulter then joined Jodie Burrage in doubles and beat Lamens and Demi Schuurs 6-2, 6-2.

In Group B, Spain upset host Czech Republic 2-1 in Ostrava by winning the singles matches, as World No. 94 Cristina Bucsa defeated No. 58 Marie Bouzkova 7-5, 6-1, and No. 69 Jessica Bouzas Maniero topped No. 33 Linda Noskova 6-4, 6-2.

The U.S. team is in Group C and played its first match Saturday, blanking Denmark 3-0. The Americans finish with host Slovakia on Sunday in Bratislava.

Hailey Baptiste and Bernarda Pera won their singles matches in straight sets against Rebecca Munk Mortensen and Johanne Christine Svendsen, respectively. Desirae Krawczyk and Asia Muhammad teamed up in doubles to down Laura Brunkel and Emilie Francati 6-4, 6-1.

In Group A, host Japan swept Romania 3-0 in Tokyo. Japan and Canada, both 1-0, face each other on Sunday.

Kazakhstan (2-0) clinched Group D on Friday, and on Saturday, host Australia improved to 1-1 with a 3-0 shutout of Colombia in Brisbane.

--Field Level Media