By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Photograph credit score: Vid Ponikvar/World Tennis/Billie Jean King Cup
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro began the day with a pre-birthday blast.
Teammates Sara Sorribes Tormo and Cristina Bucsa united in declarative doubles assertion to spark a Spanish semifinal celebration.
Veterans Sorribes Tormo and Bucsa beat Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva 6-2, 7-5 clinching Spain’s spot within the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals with a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan on the Shenzhen Bay Sports activities Centre Area in Shenzhen, China.
It’s Spain’s first Billie Jean King Cup semifinal look since 2008.
Beneath the steerage of Captain and one-handed backhand practitioner Carla Suarez Navarro, Spain scored its fourth win in its final 5 BJK Cup ties.
“I’m actually pleased with all my gamers. They actually make a extremely good and powerful effort,” Captain Suarez Navarro mentioned. “This tie was robust. Was robust. Typically some video games have been actually, actually
shut.”
Spain superior to Friday’s Billie Jean King Cup semifinals the place it’s going to face Czechia. Spain goals to proceed this BJK Cup dream.
“It’s one thing that we all the time attempt to do it,” Captain Suarez Navarro mentioned of the semifinal return. “Was very long time in the past. This competitors is so tough. Each tie is so robust.
“Our second is now, no? We are able to win at this time and we are able to nonetheless with the dream, with the objective of the Billie Jean King Cup.
“However yeah, for us, for the Spanish folks, the Spanish Federation, I believe [this] is one vital achievement.”
Eleven-time champion Czechia conquered Nice Britain, 2-0, on Tuesday on the energy of singles wins from Marie Bouzkova and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
In search of its sixth BJK Cup championship, Spain will face Czechia for the second straight season. Final 12 months, Spain stopped Czechia 2-1 within the Qualifying spherical.
Social gathering favors weren’t on Spanish thoughts when Bouzas Maneiro took the court docket at this time.
Bouzas Maneiro, who celebrates her twenty fourth birthday tomorrow (Thursday, September twenty fourth), was calling the pictures within the opening match of at this time’s best-of-three match quarterfinal.
World No. 93 Bouzaz Maneiro burst out to 5-1 leads in each units en path to a 6-2, 6-2 sweep of Sonja Zhiyenbayeva to stake Spain to a 1-0 lead.
“Yeah, tremendous proud of my efficiency at this time. It wasn’t straightforward in any respect,” Bouzas Maneiro mentioned. “I used to be somewhat bit nervous at the start. You’re taking part in to your group, to your nation, so it’s not straightforward.
“I used to be making an attempt to take that stress to the constructive manner. Yeah, actually joyful to present the purpose to Spain.”
Basliner Bouzas Maneiro served 60 %, received 23 of 28 first-serve factors and didn’t face a break level in a powerful efficiency the day earlier than her birthday.
The 20-year-old Zhiyenbayeva was pressed into singles beginning responsibility after new world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the occasion. Rybakina, who dethroned two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka within the US Open closing, suffered an Achilles harm eventually month’s Cincinnati Open finish opted out of Billie Jean King Cup play to relaxation and recuperate for the autumn season.
Bouzas Maneiro mentioned it’s a pleasure reconvening with Spanish teammates and Captain Carla Suarez Navarro.
“For me it’s tremendous particular as a result of we’ve got a number of good relationship within the group, we’ve got good communication,” Bouzas Maneiro mentioned. “From my facet I’ve every thing with my group, all that I would like in each second.
“They perceive me, in order that’s the great factor. They’ve a number of empathy for us. So yeah, I believe that’s the great factor.
“It’s a humorous week additionally as a result of we’re making an attempt to benefit from the week, not simply to play right here. We now have the stress and it’s robust competitors since you are taking part in for a rustic, however we try to take the constructive factor about it. I believe that’s the great factor. We’re, like, many of the 12 months alone, so it’s very nice to be with the group and taking part in for our nation.”
Deploying the drop shot beautifully, Yulia Putintseva fought off Cristina Bucsa 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to stage Kazakhstan with Spain after singles play.
Drawing inspiration from the Nice Wall of China, Putintseva took decided protection to a brand new stage.
“I believe I began to maneuver nicely, within the third set even higher,” Putintseva mentioned. “I made a decision like to remain there as a wall, just like the Nice China Wall, and never miss something.”
Lengthy-distance warrior Putintseva mentioned after the one hour, 51-minute win she’s accustomed to grinding out bodily victories.
“I wasn’t even anxious as a result of I believe each time I play, I find yourself taking part in three units,” Putintseva mentioned. “Although I don’t wish to, I don’t know, all the time occur the identical manner.
“So yeah, the third set I used to be very targeted to not do any errors. I believed if she desires to win this match, she has to hit winners, and hit winners not within the first two pictures, as a result of I’m going to run and get every thing again, then we’ll see what can occur. That labored in the long run.”
Ultimately, Spanish energy in doubles was evident as Bucsa and Sorribes Tormo clinched the semifinal spot on their fourth match level capping a dramatic two hour, seven-minute doubles triumph.
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