Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva both won their singles matches handily on Friday, making Kazakhstan the first team to guarantee their spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals following a 3-0 victory over Colombia.
In just 55 minutes, world number 10 Rybakina defeated Yuliana Lizarazo 6-1, 6-2 in Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena to boost her singles record to 9-1 at the competition, formerly known as the Fed Cup.
In a 6-0, 6-1 thumping over just 37 minutes, Putintseva was even more merciless against 18-year-old Valentina Mediorreal, who suffered a terrible tournament debut.
Mediorreal only managed to win 14 points and three on her first serve due to the world number 23’s overwhelming dominance.
“We have a really good team and I’m super happy to get the win. I’m looking forward to the Finals, we’re really glad to be in it,” said Rybakina.
The whitewash was subsequently completed in the doubles round when Zarina Diyas and Zhibek Kulambayeva defeated Lizarazo and Maria Paulina Perez-Garcia 6-2 5-7 6-4.
The outcome eliminated seven-time champions Australia’s chances of moving on from Group D; only the winners of the six round-robin groups of three advance to the September Finals in Shenzhen.
Kazakhstan will join 2024 champions Italy and hosts China, while Poland, the leaders of Group E, would advance if they overcome Ukraine in Radom.
With victories by Victoria Mboko and Marina Stakusic, Canada, the 2023 champions, jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Romania in Group A in Tokyo.
In other matches, Slovakia plays Denmark in Group C in Bratislava, Britain plays Germany in Group F in The Hague, and Spain plays Brazil in Group B in Ostrava.
