mbokoAfter Slovenia secured top spot in Group G on Saturday, six more teams joined them in the Billie Jean King Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Sunday, led by Team Poland, led by Iga Swiatek, who led their group with a perfect record, having won all six matches in their two ties without losing a single set.
It was obviously a difficult match today. It’s never easy playing against a truly great, talented player, especially in their home country. I’m happy that I could hold on and get the win for the team today. Victoria Mboko
Australia were the other team not to lose a match over the three days as they rose from Group E, while Canada, who were crowned world champions in 2023, advanced after beating Mexico in Group A, and Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium and Slovenia also booked their places in the 2026 qualifiers.
Swiatek’s Poland defeated Romania 3-0 to complete the Playoffs challenge unscathed, with the world number 2 putting in another dominant performance, this time crushing Gabriela Lee 6-2 6-0, to record her 12th consecutive BJK Cup victory.
Sunday started well for the hosts in Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland, after Linda Klimovicova defeated Romania’s Elena Ruxandra Bertea 6-2 6-1.
Next up was Swiatek, and although the world number 2 lost her serve twice in the first set, she still took the opener with ease after breaking Lee four times, while she played even better in the second, completing her victory with a bagel after just 61 minutes.
In 2019, the Polish woman was defeated twice in the BJK Cup when she was 17 years old, but she has not lost a match in the competition since then and now has an impressive record of 14-2.
The reigning Wimbledon champion’s 2025 season is now officially over and she will get some rest before starting her preparation for the 2026 season, representing Poland again in the United Cup.
Photo credit Mathias Schulz – ITF
Elsewhere on the final day of the Playoffs, the experience was evident as former champions Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Belgium all made their way into the 2026 qualifiers.
Australia defeated Brazil 2-0 without dropping a game, while in a tense Group F, young Team Belgium impressed with a 2-0 win over hosts Germany to return to the qualifiers after defeat last year.
US Open junior champion Jeline Vandromme gave Belgium the perfect start on her 18th birthday by beating former Top 50 player Anna-Lena Friedsam 7-6(0) 2-6 6-3, while Hanne Vandewinkel secured the tie with a straight-sets victory over Ella Seidel 6-0 6-4.
Vandromme fought past the experienced Friedsam in an exciting match of 1 hour and 36 minutes.
“I’m very happy with winning the first point,” said Vandromme. “I always expect a tough match, but I’m just proud of myself for staying in the match and staying focused the whole time.”
The teenager, who won the junior title at the US Open and the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu this year, once again showed her composure on court.
She is ranked No. 2 in the Junior World and looks to make a smooth transition to the professional ranks, having already collected four ITF World Tennis Tour titles this season.
“The mental part is different,” Vandromme explained when asked about the differences between the junior and senior levels. “When you get into the women’s circuit, they fight more for themselves. But I was able to gain a lot of experience during the season.”
It was then up to Vandewinkel to finish the job against Seidel, who was deployed as Germany’s number 1 after Eva Lys had to withdraw due to a thigh injury.
The 21-year-old Belgian came out firing and stormed through the first set in just 22 minutes. Although Seidel gradually found her feet in the second, it was not enough and she eventually gave up after 72 minutes.
Team Belgium, which plays without Elise Mertens, now advances to the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers for the fourth time.
“We are very happy with the week,” said team captain Wim Fissette. “From the start we had a special energy and a positive atmosphere in the team. Yesterday was very tough, but we managed to find a way to win. Today was just a very good day for us.”
“It’s special to be back. We played without our best player, but the young girls were able to do it. The result is great, but for me it is also important that the girls have taken a step forward since the last time we met. That is positive for the future of Belgian tennis.”
On paper, Germany were the sixth seeds and the clear favorites in Group F, and the expected showdown with Belgium should provide the decisive climax in Ismaning, but Team Turkiye had stunned the hosts 2-1 on Friday before being beaten 2-1 by Belgium on Saturday, so Sunday’s much-anticipated showdown in front of a sell-out crowd disappointed the home fans as the hosts fell short.
As a result, Germany, which was aiming for its 100th BJK Cup victory, will be relegated to Europe/Africa Group I for the first time since 2012, along with Turkiye.
“We are very disappointed,” admitted German team captain Rainer Schüttler. “We imagined it differently, but you also saw how close everything is here.
“Being relegated is never pleasant. With a little distance, we will certainly analyze what went wrong and what needs to change. But we are also realistic and know that coming back will be difficult. I hope that the top players continue to fight for us, so that we can quickly return to the World Group.”
Team Switzerland defeated hosts Argentina 2-1 in Cordoba to secure a place in the 2026 qualifiers
Photo credit Manuel Cortina – ITF
Meanwhile, Czech Linda Noskova won both her matches to help her team to a 2-1 victory over Croatia and top Group D, and in what was also effectively a knockout match in Group C, Switzerland defeated hosts Argentina 2-1 in Cordoba.
In Belinda Bencic’s absence, Simona Waltert was given the title of Switzerland’s highest-ranked nominated singles player, and the 24-year-old lived up to the billing.
Just like on Saturday against Team Slovakia, Waltert was again called into action with her team trailing 0-1, but the Swiss held strong and repelled the challenge of higher seeded Solana Sierra 6-3 7-6(8), to bring her team level in the draw.
She then teamed up with Celine Naef to win the decisive doubles match against Jazmin Ortenzi and Julia Riera, 6-4 6-1, to put the finishing touches on a dominant performance from Team Switzerland over the three days on the clay courts of Cordoba.
Waltert had arrived at the Playoffs ranked No. 86 in singles, thanks to a win at the Rio Ladies Open, and she carried that momentum into BJK Cup play, winning all four of her matches to lead the 2022 champions to the qualifiers.
Victoria Mboko secured Canada’s spot in next year’s qualifiers with a 2-1 win against hosts Mexico in Group A in Monterrey
Photo credit Jaime Lopez/JAM Media – ITF
Singles wins for Carston Branstine and Victoria Mboko saw Canada beat host Mexico in Group A in Monterrey.
After her teammate Branstine defeated Julia Garcia 6-3 7-6(5) to open the tie, Mboko overwhelmed Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-1 6-1 to seal the deal. The 19-year-old needed just 53 minutes to set up the encounter.
“Today was obviously a difficult match,” Mboko said afterwards. “It’s never easy playing against a really great, talented player, especially in their home country. I’m glad I was able to hold on and get the win for the team today.”
The Canadians had defeated Denmark 2-1 on Saturday, setting up the winner-takes-all match against Mexico, which was relegated along with Denmark.
The qualifiers for the 2026 Billie-Jean Playoffs will be played in April in a home or away match.
Here is an overview of all results in the Play-off groups during the BJK Cup Play-offs.
billiejeankingcup.com
Day 3 Results
Group A – Canada defeated Mexico 2-1
Club Sonoma, Monterrey, Mexico (hard, outdoor)
- Carson Branstine (CAN) d. Julia García (MEX) 6-3 7-6(5)
- Victoria Mboko (CAN) d. Renata Zarazua (MEX) 6-1 6-1
- Gabreela DaBroski (CAN)
Group B – Poland defeated Romania 3-0
Arena Gorzow, Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland (hard, indoor)
- Linda Klimovicova (POL) d. Elena Ruxandra Bertea (ROU) 6-2 6-1
- Iga Swik (ROU). Greetings Greame Lee (ROU) 6-2 6-0
- Katarzyna Kawa/Martyna Kubka (POL) d. Mara Gae/Monica Niculescu (ROU) 6-2 6-3
Group C – Switzerland defeated Argentina 2-1
Córdoba Lawn Tennis Club, Cordoba, Argentina (clay, outdoor)
- Julia Riera (ARG) d. Susan Bandecchi (SUI) 6-2 6-0
- Simona Waltert (SUI) d. Solana Sierra (ARG) 6-3 7-6(8)
- Celine Naef/Simona Waltert (SUI) d. Jazmin Ortenzi/Julia Riera (ARG) 6-4 6-1
Group D – Czech Republic defeated Croatia 2-1
Arena Varazdin, Varazdin, Croatia (hard, indoor)
- Petra Marcinko (CRO) d. Nikola Bartunkova (CZE) 6-3 7-6(3)
- Linda Noskova (CZE) d. Antonia Ruzic (CRO) 7-5 6-4
- Lucie Havlickova/Linda Noskova (CZE) d. Jana Fett/Petra Marcinko (CRO) 6-2 3-6 6-3
Group E – Australia defeated Brazil 2-0
Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart, Australia (hard, outdoor)
- Kimberly Birrell (AUS) d. Tape Vitoria Leme da Silva (BRA) 6-4 3-6 6-1
- Maya Joint (AUS) d. Laura Pigossi (BRA) 2-6 7-5 6-1
- Storm Hunter/Ellen Perez (AUS) vs Ingrid Martins/Luisa Stefani (BRA) – not played
Group F – Belgium defeated Germany 2-0
Tennis Club Ismaning, Ismaning, Germany (hard, indoor)
- Jeline Vandromme (BEL) d. Anna-Lena Friedsam (DU) 7-6(0) 2-6 6-3
- Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) d. Ella Seidel (DU) 6-0 6-4
- Tessa Johanna Brockman/Jule Niemeier (GER) v Magali Kempen/Jeline Vandromme (BEL) – not played
Group G – Netherlands defeated India 3-0
SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, Bengaluru, India (hard, outdoor)
- Anouk Koevermans (NED) d. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty (IND) 6-2 6-4
- Suzan Lamens (NED) d. Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 6-2 6-3
- Suzan Lamens/Demi Schuurs (NED) d. Ankita Raina/Prarthana Thombare (IND) 6-1 6-1
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