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Slovakia swept past Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup semi-final doubles decider on Tuesday to seal a 2-1 victory and set up a title showdown with Italy.

Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova saw off British duo Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 in the decisive rubber. Slovakia, the 2002 winners, face last year’s runners-up Italy in Wednesday’s final.

Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021, won the opening singles tie 6-4, 6-4 against Hruncakova to keep four-time runners-up Britain’s hopes of a first final in 43 years alive.

But Rebecca Sramkova’s comeback from a set down to beat British number one Katie Boulter 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 forced a decisive doubles rubber which Slovakia dominated.

On Monday, Italy reached a second consecutive BJK Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iga Swiatek’s Poland in Malaga.

ea/pb