Billie Jean King Cup 2026: Great Britain upset Australia to reach Finals in Shenzhen
• 2 minute read
The Lexus Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team have qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals after beating Australia 3-1 in Melbourne.
The Brits produced a stunning upset win over a strong Australian side to confirm their place in the Finals for the third straight year.
Great Britain will now look to continue their impressive record in the Billie Jean King Cup, having reached the semi-finals in three of the last previous four competitions.
Wins from 17-year-old debutant Mika Stojsavljevic, Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage on the John Cain Arena in Melbourne helped Great Britain to their fourth win in 12 ties against Australia.
The Lexus GB team have now won their last four Qualifier rubbers in the Billie Jean King Cup, with victories over France, Germany, Netherlands and Australia.
"We’re all just overjoyed," said Captain Anne Keothavong. "It’s been an unbelievable week here in Melbourne. The tennis that was played yesterday and today was fantastic – I couldn’t ask for anything more of my team. I’m so proud of them.
"It’s incredibly rewarding. I have to credit the players on my team for going out there and being able to execute the way they did, holding their nerve the way they did and perform the way they did.
"We’ve travelled to the other side of the world and it’s a big ask of the players at this point in the year. On paper the Aussies were favourites – even though yesterday was amazing for us being 2-0 up, I didn’t think we could leave anything to chance today.
"When you have players like I’ve had this week and they come together the way they did, it feels magic."
Great Britain now move on to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, which is set to take place from 21 September.
They will compete with the other six tie winners from the Qualifiers as well as host nation China for the prize of becoming Billie Jean King Cup champions.
"That’s always the ultimate goal (to win it)," Keothavong added. "I know we have the players and strength and depth in the UK to do something special in this competition.
"I’ve felt that for some time but sometimes you need a bit of luck for everything to come together. When we head to the Finals, whoever is on my team, we aren’t there to make up the numbers that’s for sure.
Great Britain now move on to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, which is set to take place from 21 September.
They will compete with the other six tie winners from the Qualifiers as well as host nation China for the prize of becoming Billie Jean King Cup champions.
Billie Jean King Cup results
| Match one | Mika Stojsavljevic bt. Talia Gibson 7-6(4), 7-5 |
| Match two | Harriet Dart bt. Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| Match three | Jodie Burrage & Harriet Dart (GBR) bt. Storm Hunter & Ellen Perez (AUS) 6-3, 6-4 |
| Match four | Katie Swan (GBR) lost vs Emerson Jones (AUS) 7-5, 6-3 |
The Brits couldn’t have asked for a better start to this must-win tie with 2024 Junior US Open champion Stojsavljevic defeating the in-form Talia Gibson 7-6(4), 7-5 – the biggest win of her career by ranking.
Making her debut for Great Britain, Stojsavljevic now becomes LTA Colour Holder No.334 and is the youngest Brit to win on debut since Katie Swan in 2016 (16).
Inspired by her compatriots performance, Dart’s experience helped her come back from a set down to beat world No.80 Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and give Great Britain a 2-0 lead.
Coming into day two, the Brits needed just one win to complete their victory and Dart and Burrage delivered just that against one of the toughest pairings in the competition.
The Brits recovered from an early break deficit to beat top 20 WTA doubles players Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3, 6-4.
It's the second year that Burrage has played a hand in securing the decisive doubles win for GB in Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers after her victory over Netherlands in 2025.
Swan was nominated to play the final rubber against former junior world No.1 Emerson Jones but a back issue in the second set led to a 7-5, 6-3 defeat for the Brit.
