Czechs beat USA to book semi-final clash with Switzerland

Katerina Siniakova upset world No. 7 Coco Gauff in straight sets to clinch the winning point against USA and book Czech Republic a semi-final with Switzerland at the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals.

The world No. 47 defeated Gauff 7-6(1) 6-1 – the American’s fifth successive singles defeat – to earn the 11-time champion Czechs a spot in the semi-finals of the women’s World Cup of Tennis for the first time since 2018.

Marketa Vondrousova had earlier given the Czechs a foot in the last four when she impressively felled world No. 14 Danielle Collins 6-3 6-3 in 72 minutes.

It was an inspired team selection from Petr Pala, who overhauled his singles line-up following their 2-1 victory over Poland the night before.

The two Karolina’s – Muchova and Pliskova – were instead given the role of courtside cheerleader for the Czechs’ crunch singles matches against the 17-time champions. It was a bold call from the Czech captain, not only to drop Muchova given the ease of her victory over Magdalena Frech on Thursday, but to place his faith in Siniakova over team No. 1 Pliskova.

"Well, we have four good players here," said Pala, justifying his decision. "You know, we play every day. So regarding the opponents, we thought that was the best way to win it, and I'm very glad that it worked out."

Siniakova had lost all three of her previous clashes with Gauff and managed just three games in their last meeting in Adelaide this year, but she was excellent in their first meeting in country colours.

"I knew that, but I was trying not to think about it, because, you know, the last matches she had she didn't really play her best tennis," said Siniakova. "I was just thinking, you know, I will go there, I will fight, and in the end it was really great match from me."

She routinely outmanoeuvred the American and displayed feather touch, clever spin and crafty angles throughout while Gauff struggled for feel, pinching a 59-minute on the tie-break while the teenager returned 39 unforced errors to just 10 winners.

With her groundstrokes misfiring, Gauff charged the net more in the second set in a bid to mix up play but the damage was done and after breaking early in the second set, Siniakova cruised on to victory.

The result followed a hugely impressive win for former world No. 14 and Olympic silver-medallist Vondrousova, who is on the comeback trail after spending six months off the tour following a second wrist surgery, but the world No. 99 hardly looked like a player short of matches against Collins.

She won both singles and doubles titles at the W100 Shrewsbury tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour last week, the second event since her return, and she seamlessly translated that form to the highest level when faced with her first Top 20 opponent since April.

“I played great last week but, you know, this is another level, so I think I was surprised,” said Vondrousova of her level. “I think I played really great. I think I served also really well, and I think she's a very tough player to play.”

Collins started the faster, fighting through eight deuces in the fourth game to break for 3-1, but it was a short-lived advantage.

Vondrousova immediately struck back, winning eight games in a row to wrap up the opening set in 42 minutes and establish a 3-0 lead in the second.

Collins finally got on the board in the fourth game of the second set, but Vondrousova’s clever, attacking play – and momentum – proved too much for the American to handle as she ultimately cruised to victory.

"Very pleased with the performance of Marketa and Katerina," said Pala. "It was really outstanding to beat such good players. I was hoping that Marketa was going to win that first match, to put some pressure on the U.S. team, and it helped."