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Kaya Jovan helped Slovenia book their place in the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup on Friday with a straight sets win over Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan.
Jovan, ranked 104th in the world, defeated Danilina, ranked 814th, 6-1, 6-0, in 53 minutes.
Teammate Tamara Zidancic won the first set of the second rubber against Yuliya Putintseva to ensure Slovenia finished top of Group Two and joined Italy and Canada in the semi-finals of the women’s team event.
Zidancic withdrew after the second set against Putintseva, winning 2-6, 6-2, which was enough for Slovenia to reserve her place in the semi-finals.
The Slovenians will meet Italy on Saturday, after the Italians secured their place on Thursday by finishing first in Group D.
The other semifinal will see Canada, which has also qualified since Thursday, take on the United States or the Czech Republic, who will battle it out for the top spot in Group A later on Friday.
In the fourth group, the clash of honor between France and Germany was eliminated in favor of the French.
Clara Borel put France on the right track by defeating Julie Niemeyer 6-4, 6-3.
Newcomer Varvara Gracheva then won the second singles rubber after her German opponent Tatiana Maria withdrew while leading 3-0.
Each match in the BJK Cup consists of two singles matches followed by a doubles match. The four winners from each group advance to the semi-finals.
Switzerland won the 2022 edition, beating Australia, but both countries were eliminated in the group stage this year.
