Captain Anne Kothavong said that her side of Great Britain “threw everything on it, but briefly” after a 2-0 loss for the United States in the semi-final of Billie Jean King Cup, extended their waiting for a first title.
Katie Boulter had to beat world number seven Jessica Pegula to keep Great Britain in the draw after a Vecht Sonay Kartal lost to Emma Navarro in the first singles match.
But after Boulter took the first set, Pegula fought back to win 3-6 6-4 6-2 in Shenzhen and to secure a 31st performance in the final for the Lindsay Davenport team.
Boulter and Kartal-Die 3-6 6-4 6-3 lost from Navarro, a player arranged more than 60 places above her-Werden left to restore missed opportunities in two tight games.
Both players released several breaking points in the second and third sets – Boulter won only two of the seven – and lost service games on either side of breaks to invite the pressure in themselves.
“It’s really difficult today,” said Koothavong. “The players still have to keep their heads high. I think we really brought it to the American team.
“You could see how much it meant for the players. They threw everything at it, but were short.
“It wasn’t this time.”
The US, the most successful team in the history of the competition with 18 titles, will be confronted in the final of Sunday against defensive champions Italy.
Great Britain has lost three times in the semi-final in the last four years, while their most recent last performance came in 1981.
“We have traveled such a long way,” Koothavong added. “We have shown consistency in recent years and challenge the very best.
“Our ambition is to lift that trophy one day. To eliminate that trophy, you have to beat some of the best.”
#Billie #Jean #King #Cup #Great #Britain #BJK #Cup #final #loss #United #States