Great Britain’s run in the Billie Jean King Cup ended in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 loss to Czechia in Shenzhen, China. The British team, led by captain Anne Keothavong, was aiming to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the fourth time in five years but faced a notably stronger Czech side.

Sonay Kartal, returning to competitive play after a six-month hiatus due to a stress fracture in her back, opened the tie against Marie Bouzkova. Kartal, ranked 127th, showed resilience in a closely contested match but ultimately fell 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4. Kartal initially took control, winning the second set convincingly and leading early in the decider, but fatigue impacted her performance in the final stages as Bouzkova secured four consecutive games to clinch victory.

Katie Boulter, Britain’s top-ranked player, followed in the decisive rubber facing Linda Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion and world number six. Boulter struggled with her serve early in the match, losing the first four games, and despite a competitive fightback, ultimately lost 6-2, 7-6 (3). Noskova’s strong serve in the tie-break ensured Czechia’s progression to the semi-finals for the first time since 2023.

With the match decided, the doubles rubber was not played. The Czech team, featuring players all ranked above the British squad members, now awaits the winner of the quarter-final between Spain and Kazakhstan to advance to the title-deciding rounds. Meanwhile, Italy, the champions in 2024 and 2025, are scheduled to play host nation China in another semi-final fixture.

Despite the defeat, Great Britain’s women’s team had previously impressed by qualifying for the finals and notably upsetting Australia earlier in the competition with an understrength lineup. On the men’s side, Great Britain secured a 4-0 victory over Ecuador to qualify for the Davis Cup quarter-finals in November. They will face Germany in the next round, with the eight-team finals this year set to take place in Bologna.