World No. 10 Elena Rybakina helped her Kazakhstan team defeat Australia 2-1 on the first day of Billie Jean King Cup who qualified Thursday in Brisbane, Australia.
After Yulia Putintseva beat Maya Joint 6-2, 6-1, Rybakina ensured that Kazakhstan dressed a point in Group D by taking down Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 7-6 (4). Rybakina met Seven Aces, won 26 out of 32 first service points (81.3 percent) and converted 4 out of 9 breaking point options.
The Australians avoided a suspension by winning the double match when Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez topped Anna Danilina and ZHibek Kulambayeva 6-3, 6-4.
Eighteen countries compete in six groups for three Thursday to Sunday. The winners of each group will move on to Billie Jean King Cup finals later this year, associated with host China and defending champion Italy. The other 12 teams will then compete in the playoffs to avoid relocation to Group I.
Thursday, the Czech Republic received a 2-1 victory over Brazil to open Group B in Ostrava, the Czech Republic.
Marie Bouzkova defeated Laura Pigossi 6-0, 7-6 (3), and Linda Noskova handed Beatriz Haddad Maia a 6-4, 6-0 defeat to set the hosts with two. Haddad Maia collaborated with Luisa Stefani in doubles to defeat Noskova and Tereza Valentova 6-4, 7-6 (4).
In Group E, Poland Switzerland swept 3-0 in Radom, Poland. Katarzyna Kawa loaded past Jil Teichmann 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; Magda Linette beat Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-3; And Maja Chwalin and Martyna Mug defeated Teichmann and Celine Naef 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
In Group F, the Dutch team lost Germany 3-0 in The Hague, the Netherlands. Eva Vedder topped Jule Niemeier 6-3, 6-1; Suzan Lamens gathered past Tatjana Maria 3-6, 6-3, 7-5; and Lamens and Demi Schuurs, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Laura Siegemund lined 7-6 (5), 7-5.
The American team is in Group C and will not play their first match until Saturday against Denmark before ending against host Slovakia on Sunday.
-Field level media
