Highlights

• Alicia Barnett & Olivia Nicholls lose nail-biting deciding doubles rubber 7-6(1), 6(5)-7, [10-6]
• Harriet Dart overcomes Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6(3), 6-2 to keep Great Britain in contention
• Heather Watson loses 6-4, 7-6(3) to Storm Sanders
• Great Britain secured semi-final spot with 3-0 win over Spain
• Watch live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport and BT Sport
• Preview
• Live scores & results

Match three – Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls fall short of deciding doubles rubber

Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls suffered a 7-6(1), 6(5)-7, [10-6] defeat to distinguished doubles stars, Storm Sanders and Sam Stosur in the deciding doubles rubber of Great Britain’s semi-final tie against Australia.

The Australian duo got off to a strong start, earning themselves the first break of the match to edge ahead, but Barnett and Nicholls remained composed as they dug deep to get back on serve at 5-5.

Orchestrating the crowd, Barnett invigorated the stands as she called for support to inspire them to earning a second break. Despite forcing their opponents to deuce at 6-5 on the return, a shot beyond the baseline from Barnett resulted in the third tiebreak of the day as both teams battled for the first set. Cantering to the finish line, Sanders and Stosur blitzed through the tiebreak, winning with one final volley to force Nicholls to seal the point at the net.

The British pair’s first serve percentage rose above 77% in the second set compared to their opponents’ 60% as they strived to stay in the match. Their efforts were eventually awarded after pulling away with a single break buffer before consolidating their lead with a crucial hold to stay ahead at 5-3.

The British pair raced to set point, but the experience of Sanders and Stosur kept them at bay as they returned the break to stay in the set. Six games apiece, both Great Britain and Australia’s fate lay with a second tiebreak where Great Britain had the edge, with just a mini-break between them to call for a deciding match tiebreak.

In one final race to 10 points, it was anyone’s game, but with one final volley at the net from Sanders, Australia booked themselves a spot in the final for the 19^th time.

Match two – Harriet Dart keeps Great Britain’s final hopes alive

Harriet Dart put Great Britain back in contention for a place in the final after ousting the world No.33, Ajla Tomljanovic, 7-6(3), 6-2.

Momentum fell with Dart early on, recovering from 30-0 down to stay on serve before breaking at the first time of asking as she moved herself up the court. Dart kept the power-fuelled shots ripping though the court, sealing a love hold before threating to take the double break, but Ajla Tomljanovic kept herself in the first set as she got her first game on the board.

Finding herself on the backfoot, Tomljanovic fought to dictate the terms of engagement as she switched up the gears to stem the Briton’s flow. However, Dart capitalised on every opportunity, generating a stream of blistering backhand winners to form a comfortable 5-3 lead.

As the Australian deviated from defensive to offensive, Dart found herself broken for the first time, but a double fault during a pressurised point for the world No.33 left her in muddy waters as Dart clambered back from 40-15 to find her second break point of the match. However, an impressive defensive performance from the Aussie led her to a critical hold.

As the Aussie reduced her racket speed and altered the trajectory of her shots, Dart struggled to find the second break, leading to an opening set tiebreak. But it was the crowd favourite who came out victorious after going up a double mini-break.

The titanic tussle continued in the second set as Dart snapped an immediate break on the Tomljanovic serve before banking the double to take the reins. Inches away from a straight-sets victory, Dart continued to knock on the door, threatening a triply break to put the second rubber to bed.

Tomljanovic, just keeping her head afloat, kept herself in the match following a long ball beyond the baseline from Dart. But not for long, as the British star produced yet another love hold to keep Great Britain in contention, closing out the match in just under two hours.

Match one – Australia takes early lead following Heather Watson’s defeat to Storm Sanders   

Heather Watson was slated to play the doubles world No.10, Storm Sanders, to kick-off proceedings in Great Britain semi-final clash against Australia. Despite a tenacious performance by this year’s Wimbledon quarter-finalist, Watson eventually bowed out 6-4, 7-6(3), handing Australia the early advantage here at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

With the Aussie piling on the pressure early doors, Watson found herself in unsteady waters as she trailed one break of serve in the opening set. Yet, the Briton stayed on her heels, continuing to haunt Sanders as she created two break point opportunities.

Despite navigating some tricky moments, Watson was unable to convert any window of opportunity as the Australian remained in control to take the first set.

Immediately charging out of the gate in the second, Watson cooked up three break points on the Sanders serve to break free for the first time in the match. However, Sanders, who clawed her way back from deficit, saw two break points go begging before capitalising on the third to get back on serve.

The Aussie star, looking to breakaway for a second time in the match, kept the pressure on Watson’s shoulders as she created a further four breakpoints. However, a couple of unforced errors from the Australian gifted Watson the advantage before an inch-perfect forehand down the line helped the home favourite to a crucial hold.

Hold for hold, the fate of the opening rubber lay with a tiebreak but, as Sander’s first serve percentage crept ever closer to 80%, Watson struggled to find a way as Australia clinched the first win of the day.