Great Britain beat Australia to book spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals
The Lexus Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team are through to the Finals in Shenzhen after winning the opening three matches in an upset victory over Australia.
Great Britain stunned the Australians at the John Cain Arena in Melbourne to make the Finals for a fourth time in five years.
17-year-old debutant Mika Stojsavljevic gave the Brits the early lead on Friday after securing a 7-6(4), 7-5 victory over 2026 breakthrough star Talia Gibson.
Then it was over to Harriet Dart who showcased her experience to fight back from a set down in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. win over world No.80 Kimberly Birrell.
Wanting to get the job done early on day two, Dart and Jodie Burrage made no mistake in securing a 6-3, 6-4 win over the experienced Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez – completing the victory for the Lexus GB side.
The Brits will now join the other seven qualifying nations and hosts China at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals from 21 September.
Match one: Stojsavljevic wins on Billie Jean King Cup debut
As far as debuts go, Stojsavljevic couldn’t have made a better start to her Billie Jean King Cup career.
The 17-year-old saved five break points in a crucial game in the second set as she beat the in-form Talia Gibson 7-6(4), 7-5.
“It feels amazing, I can’t believe it to be honest”, she said on her win. “I can’t even remember the last point, I just played and had amazing support on the side and managed to get through.”
The Brit struck first with a break in the third game of the opening set, immediately putting the pressure on her more experienced opponent on the John Cain Arena, but Gibson grew into the contest, eventually forcing a tie-break.
Despite surrendering an early 4-0 lead in the tie-break, former US Open girls’ singles champion Stojsavljevic kept herself in front before closing it out with a thunderous serve on her first set point.
Stojsavljevic carried that momentum into the second set, racing to another early break to establish a commanding 4-1 lead over the world No.56, but missed the chance to serve for the match at 5-3.
The Australian threatened again at 5-5, digging up another five break point opportunities, but the Brit showed incredible composure to fend off the danger and hold firm.
Stojsavljevic immediately turned the pressure back onto her opponent, earning her first match points at 6–5. The Briton latched on to Gibson’s serve and fired a big forehand return to seal her first Billie Jean King Cup win for Great Britain and biggest career win by ranking.
Match two: Dart fights back to overcome Birrell
Dart closed out a fantastic opening day for the Lexus GB team after she fought back from a set down to beat Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second singles match.
“I’m super happy to be able to get the win after Mika’s incredible performance earlier”, Dart said in her on court interview.
“I’m very happy to notch the win – there were so many ups and downs throughout the match but in the end I was able to find the way.
“It’s such a privilege to play for my country and I always enjoy it as much as I can and it’s so nice to be able to get another win on the board.”
Arriving as the most seasoned player in the Lexus GB team, with 11 ties already to her name, Dart’s composure proved decisive in a match dominated by momentum swings.
Birrell appeared on course to level the tie for the home nation after edging a tightly contested opening set, but the Australian was unable to resolve her issues on serve throughout the remainder of the battle.
With seven breaks of serve and six double faults from Birrell in the second set alone, Dart seized her opportunity – breaking the Australian in the eighth game before levelling the match at a set apiece.
The Brit – who has clocked six wins for her country throught her career – broke again to move 4-3 ahead in the decider.
A clinical hold to 15 kept Dart on course before she pressed once more on return, earning match point and sealing victory with a forehand winner to secure Great Britain’s second win of the day.
Match three: Dart & Burrage complete British victory
At the start of day two, Dart and Burrage finished the job for Great Britain – defeating WTA top 20 doubles stars Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez to see their team through to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
In only their first match together as a pair, Dart and Burrage beat the Australian duo 6-3, 6-4 in seal the victory for Great Britain.
“It’s pretty crazy, we played pretty well actually didn’t we,” said Dart. “It’s such an honour to represent GB and to make the Finals as well is kind of surreal.”
Inspired by the team’s brilliant performances on Friday, Dart and Burrage showed great strength to recover a break of serve in the opening game of the match.
From 3-1 down, they clinched back-to-back breaks before serving out the first set after 47 minutes.
Much like Dart’s singles rubber against Birrell on day one, the second set saw both sides tussle for momentum, going back and forth on serve.
The Brits failed to consolidate two breaks of serve in the middle stages of the set, but after claiming their third break at 5-4, the pair held their nerve to serve out another upset win for the Lexus GB team.
This is the second consecutive year that Burrage has sealed Great Britain’s place in the Finals after her doubles heroics against the Netherlands in 2025.
Match four: Jones gets Australia on the board
With the tie wrapped up, Britain’s Katie Swan and Australia’s Emerson Jones came in to play the final rubber of the tie.
17-year-old and former junior word No.1 Jones managed to get her team on the board in her Billie Jean King Cup debut with a 7-5, 6-3 win.
It was a tight opening set with both players proving solid on serve through the opening 11 games. Serving to force the tie-break Swan found herself 0-40 down before the Australian sealed the set at the first time of asking.
Swan broke early in the second but appeared to be struggling with back issue. She called for a medical timeout after the Aussie levelled and decided to carry on playing.
While she was able to see out the match, Swan wasn’t able to find her peak level and Jones closed out her first win for her country.