LONDON (AP) – New rank 1. Iga Swiatek allowed Poland to enter the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time, and on Saturday they were joined by newcomers Italy and Kazakhstan.

Other winners included the old hands of the Czech Republic, a six-time winner since 2011, and Spain.

The United States and Canada were on the verge of advancing with a 2-0 lead in the top five qualifiers.

The final will take place in November at a venue that has not yet been decided.

Sviatek beat the Romanian Andreea Prisakariu in the first inverted singles match 6: 0, 6: 0, ensuring the invincible leadership of Poland. She has won 19 in a row, winning two of the world’s first places since Esch Bartsi retired.

“It took us a few years, step by step, to progress and finally qualify,” Sviateks said. “Hopefully we’ll make even more progress in the finals. I’m really proud of us.”

In the end, Poland won with 4: 0.

The decisive third point for Italy against France in Alghero was earned by Camilla George.

George beat Harmony Dan with 6: 2, 6: 0. Tanai made his cup debut, beating Alice Cornet, but George was in the mood. Italy has won six in a row.

“We are not only happy, we are in the seventh heaven,” said Italian captain Tatiana Garbina.

France has lost three games in a row since winning the 2019 final.

Kazakhstan was disappointed by its visit to Nur-Sultan, Germany, when Elena Rybakina beat Angelika Kerber 4: 6, 6: 3, 7: 5. Kerbere conceded 5: 3 in an attempt to keep Germany alive, but Rybakina suddenly showed her best tennis in front of a tumultuous support and won the last four games.

The Kazakhs won 3: 1.

The Czechs made the distance to Great Britain and won 3-2 in Prague.

Short-lived pair Karolina Muchova, who has been playing her first cup doubles since 2019, and Marketa Vondrousova, who is playing her first cup doubles, beat Harriet Darts and Katie Swan 6: 1, 7: 5.

Vondrousova, the finalist of the 2019 French Open, who appeared at her home club, started the day with US Open champion Emma Radukan 6: 1, 6: 1.

Raducanu received a medical timeout after the first set, as a blister appeared in her right foot, which worsened.

Darta kept Britain in the draw with his first victory in the singles cup, when he beat 16-year-old Czech debutant Linda Fruhvirtova by 6: 0, 5: 7, 6: 2 in two hours.

After a short break, Darta went into doubles, her third match in two days, but Vondrousova beat her by winning all three Czech points.

Spain in Hertogenbosch has won without losing a single set against a housewife in the Netherlands.

Sara Sorribes Tormo earned the second point when Arantxa Rus won 6-0, 6-4 in her first inverted singles. Spain won with a 4-0 win over doubles.

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