Czechs wins Billie Jean King trophy in Shenzhen

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. 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. (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong