Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal deliver comfotable singles victories as Great Britain confirm spot in semi-finals in Billie Jean King Cup

Great Britain demolished Japan 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup to confirm their places in the semi-final.

British number one Emma Raducanu skipped the event to play in the Korea Open, but it turned out to be no problem as Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal breezed past their Japanese opponents to make it to the semis for the first time since 2022, as they strive for more history in Shenzhen.

Kartal gets the British team going

It has not been the best period for the 23-year-old, losing in the first round of her four previous singles competitions, and dropping down the rankings to 82nd in the world after previously reaching a career-high of 44th in July.

She had the chance to get back on the right track by representing her country in the first singles match against Ena Shibahara. The Japanese team had defeated Canada to reach this stage, and were looking to reach the last four for the first time since 1996, when it was called the Fed Cup.

It was an uphill task from the start, with Kartal storming out to a 4-0 lead. Shibahara clinched one of the two breaks back needed to stay in set one, but Kartal beat her to it, taking her second set point to give her nation the upper hand.

After four breaks of serve in the first set, there were zero in the second set. Both players had opportunities. Kartal failed to take the break points to make it 4-3, whilst Shibahara missed a golden opportunity to set her up to serve for the set.

It went all the way to a tiebreak, in which Kartal grabbed the advantage late on, winning five of the last six points on offer to come out on top in the match 6-3, 7-6(4), and leave Britain one win away from the semis.

Match Statistics Shibahara vs. Kartal

Boulter sends Great Britain through

Similar to Kartal, Boulter has also suffered a decline in form over these past months. Formerly the number one Brit, she has had that snatched back off her by Raducanu, whilst trickling down the order to 55 in the world.

However, she looked much more like herself in the rampant victory over Moyuka Uchijima. The first four games went on serve before a clinical Boulter swept the remaining four to take the first set in ominous style. She had two break points offered up, and took them both without hesitation.

She made it six games on the bounce with an early break of serve in the second set, before her opponent stopped the rot. The 29-year-old then saved a break point, before taking another of her own in the next game to go 4-1 up. She sealed the tie 6-2, 6-1, dumping Japan out of the competition and sending Great Britain through in style.

It will be a lot tougher in the semi-finals, as they brace themselves for the USA, featuring the likes of Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro.

Match Statistics Uchijima vs. Boulter