LONDON (AP) — No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek clinched a berth for Poland in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals by defeating Switzerland’s Celine Naef 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five-match qualifying round. Swiatek — who has claimed Grand Slam titles at the French Open and one at the U.S. Open — also won her opening singles match on an indoor hard court at Biel, Switzerland, on Friday. Japan, Australia and Slovakia were among the countries that advanced Saturday to the Finals, which will be held in Seville, Spain, in November. Japan went ahead 3-0 over Kazakhstan without needing four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to play a second match on an indoor hard court in Tokyo. That’s because Nao Hibino beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) on Saturday, after Osaka’s win against Putintseva on Friday helped the hosts go up 2-0. |
MNCs keen on green ties in transport, logisticsChinese military ready to boost ties with Indonesian counterpart: defense spokespersonChina brings opportunities rather than risks to world, expert saysXi Presents Order to Promote Military Officers to Rank of GeneralChinese FM mourns passing of renowned Japanese conductor Seiji OzawaAcross China: Exhibition unveils rare masterpiece by ancient Chinese artistSafe, healthy cyberspace key for young peopleProtection efforts lift crested ibis populationXi highlights upgrading of openingNew hypersonic wind tunnel 'most advanced in world'