Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2025: Great Britain bow out to USA in semi-finals

Follwing the loss, Lexus Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup Captain, Anne Keothavong, said: "I think the players either side of me should still hold their heads high. I think we really took it to the American team this evening. The matches were close. 

"I've said throughout the week, this competition is really important to all of us. I think you could see how much it meant to the players competing out there, how much they wanted it. They threw everything at it but came up short. That's sport for you. It wasn't to be this time. 

"As a team we've come such a long way. This is my eighth year as captain. The fact that we're competing to reach the Final in this, and we've showed consistency in recent years, challenging the very best.

"Our ambition is still very much to lift that trophy one day. To lift that trophy, you've got to beat some of the best players in the world. I do believe we have players that are capable of it. This will motivate us."

Kartal came in as the underdog against this season’s WTA 500 Merida Open champion and 2024 US Open semi-finalist, but the British No.4 got the better of her opponent in the early physical contest – leading by a set and then a break on two occasions in the second set.

Navarro saved two match points to come through her quarter-final against Yulia Putintseva and the American summoned the same spirit to steal the second set and then take the momentum into the third.

At 3-2 in the third, Navarro won eight points in a row to secure a three game cushion before serving out the match.

"(I'm) obviously absolutely gutted," Kartal said. "It was my first experience this year of playing the qualifiers and playing here. I think there's a lot of emotion. Super gutted we couldn't pull through it.

"Today I felt like my form was much better. I was doing a lot of good things, stuff that I
need to do on the court, forcing myself. Yeah, personally I feel like hopefully I can take this match and give me the momentum that I was having the last few months."

It was a similar story for British No.2 Boulter, who played an almost flawless opening set against the former world No.3 and 2024 US Open runner-up.

Boulter looked set to replicate her previous win over the American at last year’s United Cup with a double break in the first set thanks to some big, aggressive baseline hitting right from the first ball.

Pegula adapted well in the second and third sets to soak up and neutralize Boulter’s weapons. The British star was unable to continue her strong numbers on serve and was broken five times in the final two sets.

Boulter showed her fight to overcome a break deficit in the decider to get to 2-2, but a stunning backhand winner from Pegula kickstarted a run of four consecutive games to help see USA into Sunday’s final.

"For me personally, I always love walking out there and playing for my country," Boulter said. "I think for me it's where I get my biggest wins and my lowest losses, as well.

"At the same time I know it's going to motivate me for a very long time. Obviously a match like that against a top-quality player, I can't expect myself to win every time. I'm actually at a stage where I expect myself to win those matches, which is why it hurts more. I think that's a good thing. I think it shows the level that I'm at."

While the Brits will be disappointed not to reach the final – both Kartal and Boulter can take huge positives in the way they competed against two top 20 players and with their emphatic victories over Japan in the quarter-finals.

Great Britain will return to the Qualifiers in 2026 for the chance to make the Finals once again.