Billie Jean King Cup semi-final 2025 – Great Britain v USA
Date: Saturday, 20 September Venue: Shenzhen, China
Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer (UK only), plus live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app
Great Britain are through to the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup – and victory over the United States on Saturday would send them through to a first final in the annual women's team event since 1981.
Britain comfortably beat Japan in their quarter-final tie on Thursday to match last year's run to the last four.
Defending champions Italy will face Ukraine in the other semi-final.
Britain have made the final four times but have never lifted the title.
BBC Sport takes a look at the team – who are without Emma Raducanu after she pulled out earlier this month – aiming to change that.
- 'Hopefully our time now' – Britain into BJK Cup semi-finals
- Raducanu withdraws from BJK Cup to focus on tour matches
Katie Boulter – the experience
Age: 29 Ranking: 55 Strength: Forehand
British number two Katie Boulter, appearing in the BJK Cup for the seventh year, brings some much-needed experience to Anne Keothavong's side.
She won her singles match against Germany in April's qualifying event but lost in the singles against the Netherlands, before she and Jodie Burrage teamed up to win the decisive doubles match and clinch Britain's finals place.
It has, however, been a mixed 2025 for Boulter.
She missed some tournaments early in the year with a foot injury before claiming a maiden clay title at a WTA 125 event in Paris.
A second-round defeat at the first women's Queen's event for 52 years was part of a difficult grass-court season, and Boulter relinquished her two-year reign as British number one to Raducanu as a result.
She achieved a fourth career win against a top-10 player – defeating Paula Badosa in the Wimbledon first round – but lost to lucky loser Solana Sierra in the next.
Boulter did not make it past the second round at any of the four Grand Slams, admitting at Wimbledon that her "moment might not come".
But Boulter has often highlighted her love of competing for her country, with the BJK Cup bringing out the best in her.
That was in evidence against Japan on Thursday as she dropped just three games in a straight-set win over Moyuka Uchijima to secure Britain's semi-final spot.
Sonay Kartal – the future star
Age: 23 Ranking: 82 Strength: Movement
Sonay Kartal's remarkable rise up the rankings has been well-documented since last year's run to the Wimbledon third round.
This year, a second-round French Open appearance saw her move inside the world's top 50 for the first time before she again thrived at SW19, reaching the fourth round.
Kartal made an impression on her BJK Cup debut earlier this year, sealing two wins in her two singles matches against Germany and the Netherlands.
Despite a first-round US Open loss in August, Kartal's rapid progress has pointed to serious potential – and her 100% record at the BJK Cup makes her a valuable team member.
She gave Britain the perfect start to their quarter-final tie with a straight-set win against Ena Shibahara on Thursday.
Jodie Burrage – the resilient one
Age: 26 Ranking: 149 Strength: Front-footed style
Jodie Burrage was around the British team for several years before making her debut in 2023 and earned a first win for her country earlier this year alongside Boulter in the doubles.
Burrage's career has been plagued with injury, ultimately missing six months of the season last year with a wrist problem.
But she continues to fight back. This year, she earned a first career win at the Australian Open and made her French Open debut four months later.
Losses to top-50 players followed in the early rounds at Queen's and Eastbourne before a first-round exit at Wimbledon.
She made it to the second round of the women's doubles at SW19 alongside Kartal – a partnership that could be rekindled in China.
Francesca Jones – the newcomer
Age: 24 Ranking: 73 Strength: Mentality
A late addition to the British team following Raducanu's withdrawal, Francesca Jones has enjoyed a breakout year on the WTA Tour.
She qualified for her first WTA 1000 event in Madrid and earned main-draw wins at events at Nottingham and Eastbourne.
In July, she won the biggest title of her career at a WTA 125 event – the rung below the main tour – in Contrexeville, France, and swiftly followed up with a second title at that level in Palermo.
That led to her cracking the world's top 100 for the first time, before Jones came through three rounds of qualifying to secure a maiden US Open main-draw appearance.
Jones ultimately lost in the first round by German Eva Lys but continues to show what she is capable of.
