- Czech Republic’s Vondrousova beats Raducanu 6-1, 6-1
- Harriet Dart wins but Czech team triumph in decisive doubles
In a simple sport usually contested head-to-head with only two individuals involved, the nuances of team tennis competitions so often lend themselves to unpredictability and chaos. Such drama unfolded freely on a cold afternoon in Prague as Great Britain fought admirably to push the Czech Republic all the way to an unlikely deciding fifth rubber in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers before finally losing 3-2.
The second day opened with Marketa Vondrousova picking Emma Raducanu apart 6-1, 6-1 as the Brit struggled with foot blisters in the second half of the match. But the unproven 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova was chosen to face Harriet Dart, a shocking decision that Dart took full advantage of, eventually closing out the victory 6-0, 5-7, 6-2. The home nation clinched the deciding doubles as Vondrousova and Karolina Muchova outclassed Dart and Katie Swan 6-1, 7-5.