The Peninsula Times - Czech Republic beat Ukraine to win BJK Cup

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Czech Republic beat Ukraine to win BJK Cup
Czech Republic beat Ukraine to win BJK Cup / Photo: - - CN-STR/AFP

Czech Republic beat Ukraine to win BJK Cup

Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova delivered a first Billie Jean King Cup title since 2018 for the Czech Republic with victories over Ukraine in the final in Shenzhen on Sunday.

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The top-10 duo made history for their nation earlier this year when they squared off in an unprecedented all-Czech final at Wimbledon and have now added to their growing list of achievements by clinching the Czech Republic's 12th BJK Cup trophy.

Noskova sealed the 2-0 victory with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) win over world number seven Elina Svitolina after Muchova had put the Czechs in front with a 6-2, 6-3 rout of Anhelina Kalinina.

Czech captain Barbora Strycova is a six-time champion and was a player on the team that beat the USA in the final in 2018.

She has become just the fourth woman to win the BJK Cup as both a player and a captain –- joining Margaret Court, Chris Evert and King herself.

Ukraine were competing in their first-ever BJK Cup final after they knocked out two-time defending champions Italy in the previous round.

(G.VanRooyen--TPT)