U.S. rallies twice vs. Belgium in Billie Jean King Cup
Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro both rallied for three-set wins Friday night, leading the United States to a 2-0 lead over Belgium in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifying series at Orlando.
Pegula defeated Sofia Costoulas 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 before Navarro topped Hanne Vandewinkel 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Eight qualifying series are being held this weekend around the world.
Each best-of-five series consists of two singles matches on Friday, then two reverse singles matches and a doubles match on Saturday.
The eight winning teams advance to the event’s final rounds to be held in November at Seville, Spain. They will join four teams that are already qualified: reigning champion Canada, 2023 runner-up Italy, host Spain and wildcard nation Czech Republic.
Australia became the first team to advance, jumping out to an insurmountable 3-0 lead on Mexico on Saturday (local time) in Brisbane, Australia. On Friday, Arina Rodionova beat Giuliana Olmos 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and Daria Saville routed Marcela Zacarias 6-1, 6-0. Taylah Preston sealed the series with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Zacarias.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruised past Switzerland’s Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-1 to help Poland establish a 2-0 lead in
Biel, Switzerland.
In other action, Great Britain is level 1-1 with host France in Le Portel; Japan took a 2-0 lead over Kazakhstan in Tokyo; Germany jumped on top of Brazil 2-0 in Sao Paulo; host Slovakia went up 2-0 on Slovenia in Bratislava; and Ukraine established a 2-0 advantage on Romania in Fernandina Beach, Fla.