Swiatek doubles up to lead Poland into BJK Cup semis

Iga Swiatek is unbeaten in the Billie Jean King Cup in the last five years

World number two Iga Swiatek secured back-to-back wins to lead Poland into their first Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals with a comeback victory over the Czech Republic.

After Czech Marie Bouzkova won her singles opener against Magdalena Frech, it was up to Swiatek to keep Poland's hopes alive.

The five-time Grand Slam winner first beat Czech teenager Linda Noskova, who knocked her out of the Australian Open in January, 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-5 in a match that lasted two hours and 39 minutes.

Swiatek then returned to court with Katarzyna Kawa for a rare doubles encounter, with the pair sealing a 6-1 6-4 win against Katerina Siniakova and Bouzkova to book a place in the semi-finals.

"In 20 minutes I'll be dead," Swiatek joked afterwards.

"It was an exhausting day, but everything worked. We did a great job, we won."

Paolini's Italy edge Japan

Italy await Poland in the semi-finals after Jasmine Paolini helped her side to victory over Japan, winning her singles and doubles matches.

Seeking their first semi-final place at the event since 1966, Japan took the lead in the best-of-three tie when Ena Shibahara mounted a comeback to defeat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the opening singles match.

But up stepped world number four Paolini to level the tie, swiftly beating 56th-ranked Moyuka Uchijima 6-3 6-4 to force a doubles decider.

French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini then teamed up with Sara Errani, three months after they won Olympic gold together, to beat Japan's Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi 6-3 6-4.

Italy are four-time BJK Cup champions but lost to Canada in the final of last year's tournament.