Great Britain will be present at the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals thanks to a 2-1 triumph over the Netherlands in their final Group F qualifier in The Hague.
After both nations got the better of already-eliminated Germany, Saturday's best-of-three was a winner-takes-all affair, one that began in perfect fashion for GB as Sonay Kartal bested Eva Vedder.
However, Katie Boulter's straights-sets loss to Suzan Lamens forced a critical doubles decider, where Boulter and Lamens found themselves on opposite sides of the court again, this time alongside Jodie Burrage and Demi Schuurs.
Boulter quickly atoned for her singles loss as her and Burrage demolished the Dutch pair, thus sending Anne Keothavong's squad to September's eight-team Finals in China.
The build-up to April's qualifiers was dominated by a familiar story - Emma Raducanu withdrawing from GB duty to "look after her body" - but Keothavong's contingent defied the absence of the former US Open champion over the course of two days in the Netherlands.
Rising star Kartal followed up her statement win over Germany's Jule Niemeier with a more hard-fought success this time around, having to fight back from a second-set blip to prevail 6-4 4-6 6-1 against Vedder.
Burrage ace seals GB's place at BJK Cup Finals
Great Britain are BACK in the #BJKCup Finals 🎉 🙌
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 12, 2025
Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage book the Brits' place in Shenzhen, defeating Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs 6-2 6-2 in the doubles decider against the Netherlands! pic.twitter.com/AIP4IS4PbD
The world number 60 was ruthless when required in the third and final set, taking the only two break points she fashioned and holding to love while serving for the match to put GB 1-0 to the good.
Kartal's success gave Boulter the chance to confirm GB's progression against Lamens, a player ranked 30 places lower than her, but the British number one fell to a 4-6 3-6 loss on the clay.
After losing the first set, Boulter was on track to force a decider as she moved 3-1 up in the second, but the world number 40 capitulated as a resurgent Lamens won five games in a row to level the tie for the Dutch.
However, Boulter was given an immediate shot at redemption as she and Burrage clashed with Lamens and Schuurs, rather than the expected pairing of Olivia Nicholls and Harriet Dart.
Keothavong's last-minute change worked a treat, as the GB pair thrashed Lamens and Schuurs 6-2 6-2, firing 26 winners throughout the contest and sealing the win on a Burrage ace, which was initially called out before an overrule from the chair umpire.
The Brits have now joined hosts China, champions Italy, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Spain in this year's BJK Cup Finals, which will be held from September 16 to 21 in Shenzhen.
Ben Knapton
