MALAGA: Slovakia overcame Australia 2-0 on Sunday to reach the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. The country of 5.4 million, which beat the United States in the first round, is into the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 2013. Viktoria Hruncakova and Rebecca Sramkova both won their singles ties to give Slovakia an unassailable lead ahead of the scheduled doubles match.

World number 241 Hruncakova emerged victorious against Kimberly Birrell 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 after over two-and-a-half hours on court to give the central European country the lead over Australia. Sramkova then needed just over an hour to win 6-1, 6-2 against former world number 32 Ajla Tomljanovic, who injured her knee in the third game of the first set. Later on Sunday, Britain will play holders Canada with the winners set to face Slovakia in the semi-finals. On Monday, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek will lead Poland as they take on world number four Jasmine Paolini’s Italy in the other semi-final. — AFP