The British Billie Jean King Cup squad booked their spot in September’s BJK Cup Finals with a stunning upset over Australia. Team GB had a 2-0 lead over the strong Aussie squad going into day two of their qualifier tie in Melbourne’s John Cain Arena. And Jodie Burrage and Harriet Dart partnered up to beat the experienced doubles pairing of Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3 6-4 to send Britain into Finals week.

Day one of the tie saw 17-year-old debutant Mika Stojsavljevic, ranked down at No. 275 in the world, cause a massive shock when she beat world No. 56 Talia Gibson 7-6(4) 7-5. Then, Harriet Dart came from a set down to beat Kimberly Birrell.

The Brits were massive underdogs going into the qualifier tie, as Britain’s four highest-ranked players, Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Katie Boulter, and Francesca Jones, did not represent the team. Kartal had initially signed up for the squad but pulled out due to a back injury, which also forced her out of the recent Miami Open.

Raducanu, Boulter and Jones opted not to make the trip Down Under to compete on hard courts at the same time as the beginning of the European clay swing. But Team GB didn’t miss its top players, with Burrage, Dart and Stojsavljevic stepping up to sweep the tie 3-0.

Dart and Burrage joined forces in doubles for the very first time, and rallied to win five games in a row after going 1-3 down in the first set. And they came out on top in a rollercoaster second set, which saw five breaks of serve, earning Britain a place in the BJK Cup Finals for the third year running.

Afterwards, doubles world No. 129 Dart said: “We knew it was going to be an incredibly tough match. They’re two great players, and they play a lot of doubles, and it was our first time playing together. It’s a bit crazy, actually, because we played pretty well, didn’t we? But it’s such an honour to represent GB and to be able to make the finals as well is kind of surreal.”

Burrage, who had not played a competitive match of any kind since September, added: “That feels amazing. I’m proud of us for the way that we played, the way that we came out and managed to close that out.”

Britain’s Katie Swan went on to lose a dead rubber to Australian teenager Emerson Jones. But the Brits are through to the BJK Cup Finals, an eight-team showdown taking place in Shenzhen this September. Team GB reached the semi-finals in 2024 and 2025, and are eyeing another big run after causing an upset in Australia.

“We’re all just overjoyed. Look, it’s been an unbelievable week here in Melbourne, and the tennis that was played yesterday and today was just fantastic. I couldn’t really ask anything more of my team. I’m so proud of them. We came here, and we did it, girls,” team captain Anne Keothavong said after reaching the Finals for the third straight year.

“We’ve travelled to the other side of the world, and you know, it’s a big ask of the players at this time of year. And knowing that playing at home isn’t easy, and on paper, the Aussies were the favourites. And even today, even though yesterday was amazing for us, being 2-0 up, I don’t think we could leave anything to chance today.

“Certainly, in my head, yes, the players were given a game plan which they were able to execute, and they were able to perform. So in my head, it’s kind of preparing for that fifth rubber and you just gotta be ready for all eventualities. And anything else is a bonus, and it’s brilliant. But, like I said, I’m just so proud of all the players for what they were able to do, and in difficult circumstances.”

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page