Ukrainian tennis players moved closer to reaching the Billie Jean King Cup final on September 26, 2026, after securing a 1-0 lead over Italy in the semifinals in Shenzhen, China. Anhelina Kalinina opened the tie with a 6:3, 6:4 victory against Tyra Caterina Grant, and Elina Svitolina is set to face Jasmine Paolini in the second singles rubber, which could secure Ukraine’s place in the final despite the absence of world number ten Marta Kostyuk.
Kalininová Sets the Pace Against Grant
Anhelina Kalinina put the Ukrainian team ahead by subduing 18-year-old Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets, finishing the match in under an hour and a half. Kalinina relied heavily on her serve and secured a crucial break in each set to earn her second victory of the tournament in Shenzhen, following her earlier win over Belgium’s Jana Otzipka. The 29-year-old maintained control throughout the baseline exchanges without surrendering her service games, according to match reports.
Svitolina Seals the Semifinal Sweep
Elina Svitolina is set to face two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini in the second singles rubber, aiming to secure Ukraine’s place in the final. The straight-sets victory rendered the doubles rubber unnecessary, advancing captain Ilja Marchenko’s squad into the final.
The Championship Match Against the Czech Republic
Ukraine will face the Czech Republic in the Sunday final scheduled for 11:00 CEST. The Czech squad, captained by Barbora Strýcová, advanced to the title match after defeating Great Britain and Spain earlier in the tournament. The Czech team is seeking its 12th title in the historic team competition formerly known as the Fed Cup, and its first since 2018.
“Ukrajina bude ohromně těžký soupeř. Uvnitř našeho týmu je ale skvělá atmosféra. Pro nás je to super i velká změna. Celý rok hrajeme za každá za sebe, tady ale máme stejný cíl,” řekla před finálovým duelem Karolína Muchová.
Strýcová acknowledged the high stakes as her team prepares for the final hurdle. “We still need to take one step, and that last one is usually the most complicated. We are the favorites, that’s a fact, we have it in black and white. The girls don’t take it quite so much, which is right. Anyway, great things are born under pressure, so I’m curious about it,” Strýcová added.
