France's Billie Jean King Cup defence ended by Russians

Prague (Czech Republic), November 4: France's Billie Jean King Cup defence ended at the hands of the Russian Tennis Federation, who will meet the United States in the semi-finals after Wednesday's play in Prague.

Clara Burel put France on course for the 3-0 victory they needed to advance from Group A with a three-set victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova, but Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova outlasted Alize Cornet in the second rubber to ensure a new champion will be crowned.

Pavlyuchenkova saved six of 10 break points and racked up an impressive 34 winners en route to a crucial 5-7 6-4 6-2 success against Cornet.

"I'm so, so happy and so proud of myself because I think it was an incredible match. It was very good tennis but more importantly I think it was an amazing fighting spirit from both of us," said Pavlyuchenkova.

"We were like two tigers. Nobody wanted to give the other anything and I think that's what matters. That's the sport we're playing."

Brilliant from start to finish 💥@NastiaPav wins an epic contest to guarantee RTF top spot in Group A!#BJKCupFinals pic.twitter.com/RZYtKJf9vQ

— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) November 3, 2021

Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova comfortably defeated Cornet and Burel in the doubles to consign the reigning champions to a 2-1 defeat.

The RTF will go up against the USA in the first semi-final, with the Americans comfortably seeing off Spain in the singles rubbers.

Sloane Stephens bested Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-4 6-4 before Danielle Collins swept Sara Sorribes Tormo aside 6-1 6-0 in under an hour.

Collins won 83 per cent of points behind her first serve and forced Sorribes Tormo into 24 errors during a resounding victory.

Spain avoided a 3-0 defeat, though, with Aliona Bolsova and Rebeka Masarova beating Caroline Dolehide and CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3 6-4 in the doubles rubber.