Czechia beats Ukraine to win 12th Billie Jean King Cup

Czechia defeated Ukraine 2-0 in the Billie Jean King Cup final in Shenzhen on Sunday, with Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova winning the singles matches to secure the country’s 12th title in the women’s international team competition. It was Czechia’s first championship since 2018. Muchova put Czechia ahead by beating Anhelina Kalinina 6-2, 6-3 in the opening match. Noskova then clinched the final against Elina Svitolina, winning 6-3, 7-6. The scoreline for the second set was reported differently in accounts of the match, but the reports agree that Noskova won in straight sets and ended Ukraine’s chance to force a deciding doubles match. The result places Czechia second on the competition’s all-time title list, behind the United States, which has won 18 championships. The Czech team reached the final after beating Spain in the semifinals and Great Britain in the quarterfinals. Its singles victories in the final meant doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova did not need to play. Ukraine reached the final for the first time since it began competing in the event in 1993. Its run included a semifinal victory over defending champion Italy.