France, Spain qualify for BJKCup Final

France and Spain qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Saturday both taking unassailable 3-0 leads against Britain and Mexico respectively.

World No 5 Caroline Garcia gave France the winning point indoors in Coventry with a 6-1, 6-7 (10/12), 6-1 win over Britain's Harriet Dart.

On Friday, Garcia and Alize Cornet had to play almost six hours to dominate Katie Boulter 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2) and Dart 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3) respectively.

Clutch Cornet ??@alizecornet fights past Dart in an enthralling match, 7-6(6) 7-6(3) ??#BJKCup | @FFTennis pic.twitter.com/0nlBhai2HJ

— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 14, 2023

On clay in Marbella, Nuria Parrizas Diaz, ranked 80, sealed victory for hosts Spain with a 6-3, 6-0 win over 196th-ranked Marcela Zacarías.

Parrizas Diaz also won her singles tie in straight sets on Saturday along with Sara Sorribes Tormo to ensure Spain's presence in the finals in November at a venue to be decided.

Unstoppable @NuriaParrizas makes it 3-0 for her country and secures the win for Spain??????#BJKCup | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/gs3aCU3MHB

— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 15, 2023

Britain, who reached the semifinals last year, were missing Emma Raducanu, leaving 117th-ranked Dart as their top singles player.

Record 18-time champions the United States, led by top-10 players Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are 2-0 up against Austria in Delray Beach.

On Friday, Gauff beat Julia Grabher 6-1, 6-3, before No 3 ranked Pegula defeated Sinja Kraus 6-0, 7-5.

The best-of-five-match contest continues Saturday with up to two matches in singles and one in doubles.

Defending champions Switzerland and 2022 runners-up Australia received direct entrance to the 7-12 November finals, which will feature four groups of three.