Big guns ensure Czechs reach semi-finals of BJK Cup

Marketa Vondrousova, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova came together to send the Czechs through to a semi-final against Canada

CTK Photobank / Panoramic

Simon Cambers

November 10, 2023

After resting for the first match as they recovered from their exploits at the WTA Finals, Czechia’s big guns came good to help their country reach the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup on Friday.

While Katerina Siniakova was beaten handily by Danielle Collins in the opening singles, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-1 to level the tie and Barbora Krejcikova and Siniakova then beat Taylor Townsend and Collins 6-3, 7-5 to seal a 2-1 win for the Czechs and keep them on track for a 12th Billie Jean King Cup title.

Billie Jean King Cup Finals 🇪🇸 Results – Group Stages

🇨🇿 Czechia 2 : 1 USA 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 Collins d Siniaková 🇨🇿 6-3, 6-2
🇨🇿 Vondroušová d Kenin 🇺🇸 6-1, 6-1
🇨🇿 Krejčíková/Siniaková d Collins/Townsend 🇺🇸 6-3, 7-5

Czechia advance to the semifinals!#BJKCupFinals pic.twitter.com/bx8QvTbO1F
— First Serve Tennis (@FirstServeTnnis) November 10, 2023

The result means they will play Canada in the semi-finals. Spain beat Poland 2-0 in the other match of the day thanks to wins by Rebeka Masarova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, but Canada had already secured their semi-final spot through two wins out of two.

Collins was too strong for Siniakova in the opening match, winning it 6-3, 6-2 but Kenin, who had battled hard to help the United States to victory in their opening match on Thursday, had nothing left against Vondrousova and was duly hammered by the left-hander for the loss of two games.

The US then substituted Collins in for Sloane Stephens in the doubles but they were always up against it playing Krejcikova and Siniakova and the Czechs won 6-3, 7-5 to seal their place in the last four.

Italy will take on Slovenia in the other semi-final on Saturday.