Great Britain out of Billie Jean King Cup Finals as Boulter, Kartal beaten

Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal suffer defeats to Linda Noskova and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic respectively to exit Billie Jean King Cup at quarter-final stage; you can also watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September live on Sky Sports

Great Britain's stay at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals lasted only one match as they fell to Czechia in the quarter-finals in Shenzhen.

Anne Keothavong's side were bidding to reach the last four for the fourth time in five years but were considerable underdogs and defeats for Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter sealed their fate.

Led by Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, the whole Czech team is ranked higher than any of Britain's players, and it was Noskova who sealed victory with a 6-2 7-6 (7-3) win over Boulter.

That followed a lengthy struggle between Marie Bouzkova and Kartal lasting a minute short of three hours, which the Czech eventually took 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-4.

Katie Boulter misses out to Wimbledon Champion Linda Noskova, ending our time at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/b1lARjK1KX

It was a fine effort from Kartal, who was playing her first match in six months after suffering a stress fracture in her back in Indian Wells in March and she will now hope to finish the season strongly.

The Czechs will bid for their seventh title in the competition since 2011 while Britain's hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time are over for another year.

Keothavong's team have over-performed in the Billie Jean King Cup in recent years and did so again by reaching the finals, with an under-strength team upsetting Australia in April.

Davis Cup: Great Britain book place in Finals as Neal Skupski and Henry Patten victory over Ecuador

Davis Cup: Arthur Fery and Toby Samuel give Great Britain lead over Ecuador to move them closer to knockout stage

Laver Cup 2026: Schedule, dates, format, players and how to watch or stream Team Europe vs Team World at London's O2 on Sky Sports

Novak Djokovic to return to ATP's China Open on Sky Sports after 11-year absence from event

WTA Finals: Charlotte's Spectrum Center revealed as new United States home for showpiece WTA event from 2027 season