GB ease past Japan to net last-four spot in cup contest

TENNIS: Great Britain made light work of a quarterfinal tie with Japan to set up a semifinal clash against the USA in the Billie Jean King Cup.

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Sonay Kartal got the British team off to a strong start in Shenzhen with a straight sets win against Ena Shibahara, taking the first set 6-3 before winning a tiebreak in the second to prevail 7-6(4).

Katie Boulter then faced Moyuka Uchijima and she too did not drop a set when winning 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour.

Kartal kept her composure when a dominant first set was followed by a tougher battle in the second, but even under the pressure of a tiebreak her focus did not waver and she ultimately got the job done to continue a good run in the tournament.