Lindsay Davenport’s Team USA, which did not bring three of its Top 10 players (Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro) to an emphatic start, got Taylor Townsend’s first BJK Cup victory, 7-5, 6-4 over. junior Renata Jamrichova, but Rebecca Sramkova outlasted Danielle Collins 6-2, 7-5 to force a doubles decider.
Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova then topped Townsend and Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to Slovakia.
“We wanted to win a lot, we gave everything,” said Hruncakova. “I have no words.”
“The ranking is not important, but the heart and the team [is],” said Mihalikova. “We beat the favorites and we’re very happy.”
Earlier on Thursday, Japan defeated Romania 2-1, as Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi won the doubles decider 6-1, 7-5 over Elena Gabriela Ruse and Monica Niculescu.
Japan will face Italy in the quarterfinals.
