'Nervous' Aussies rally to advance to semi-finals

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Australia earned a spot successful the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup connected Thursday by winning some singles matches against Belarus.

The Aussies, who reached the last of the past variation of the contention formerly known arsenic the Fed Cup, needed to triumph the best-of-three bid to beforehand from Group B.

The Czech Republic and Switzerland volition conscionable aboriginal Thursday successful Group D with the victor mounting up a lucifer against Australia successful the adjacent round.

Ajla Tomljanovic rallied to decision Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to springiness Australia an unbeatable 2-0 lead. Storm Sanders bushed Yuliya Hatouka 6-3, 6-3 successful the opening singles match.

"I was blessed I could travel retired contiguous and the information that I got the constituent makes maine unbelievably happy," Tomljanovic said.

For the 131st-ranked Sanders, it was her 2nd triumph astatine the tournament. She besides bushed Belgium's apical player, 18th-ranked Elise Mertens, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 successful her debut for Australia.

"Today, I decidedly felt determination was much pressure," said Sanders, who didn't look a interruption point. "For me, adjacent if I was a small spot nervous, it was large to person the teammates connected the broadside and they decidedly helped with their support."

The 12 teams successful the finals were divided into 4 groups of 3 successful a caller contention format. Only the radical winners beforehand to Friday's semi-finals.

Last year's variation was cancel[led due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic.

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