Spaniard Cristina Bucsa's marathon day at the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup on Wednesday, Sept. 23, resulted in Spain defeating Kazakhstan, 2-1, in the quarterfinal to advance to the semifinal for the first time since 2008.
But the win was far from easy.
After Bucsa dropped her singles match against Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva in the quarterfinal duel, Bucsa had to quickly regroup for a decisive doubles match with partner Sara Sorribes Tormo against Kazakhstan's Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva.
"I talked to (Bucsa) and I asked her if she's available (to) play the doubles and she said, 'Yeah, I can play. I feel tired, but I'll go with all my energy," captain Carla Suarez Navarro said after the win. "Nothing is easy here, but I'm happy for Jessica
(Bouzas Maneiro). I'm happy for Sara (Sorribes Tormo) and Cristina (Bucsa).
"But I'm really happy to be in the semifinals. ... Our moment is now."
A depleted Bucsa and Sorribes Tormo dug deep to save 18 break points in the straight-set victory, securing a 6-2, 7-5 doubles win to punch a ticket to the semifinal. The doubles match lasted more than two hours, which came after Bucsa's singles match, which finished just under two hours.
"I tried to put all my effort. I gave everything that I had on the singles game," Bucsa said. "Then on doubles, all the crowd and my team, they support me so much."
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro gave Spain a 1-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan's SonjaZhiyenbayeva. The straight-set victory lasted a little more than one hour, but Maneiro admitted she was battling nerves despite her stellar performance. Spain's lead disappeared after Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva leveled the quarterfinal 1-1 with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Bucsa, setting up a winner-take-all doubles match.
Danilina and Kulambayeva were only able to convert 2-of-20 break points in the decisive doubles match. Meanwhile, the Spanish duo of Bucsa and Sorribes Tormo converted 5-of-8 break points. And after four match points, Bucsa and Sorribes Tormo clinched the match and were able to celebrate their win.
"We are Spanish, so we were jumping, singing," Sorribes Tormo said of their celebration. "Tomorrow we will still be very, very happy. We will enjoy the day and we will continue trying to have this feeling with each other because I think we're making something very, very (special) with the team. And that's why I think we're in the semifinals."
Busca credited the fans at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China, with carrying them over the finish line: "We hear more Spanish and the Chinese that were very loud and support us, so that gave us more energy."
Kazakhstan was competing without World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who withdrew from the competition last week due to an Achilles tendon injury she battled during her U.S. Open title run.
"I have to announce that I won't be able to participate in the Billie Jean King Cup this year. I am very sad to miss Shenzhen, such a nice place with an amazing crowd," Rybakina said in a statement on Sept. 18. "Last month has been tough for my body and I will need to recover and be at my best to compete again. I wish the girls good luck."
VAMOS! Spain is into the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals!
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 23, 2026
🇪🇸 Bouzas Maneiro def. Zhiyenbayeva 6-2, 6-2
🇰🇿 Putintseva def. Bucsa 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
🇪🇸 Bucsa/Sorribes Tormo def. Danilina/Kulambayeva 6-2, 7-5
Stream their next tie against Czechia on our App 📲#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/0dWAUrR2Et
Spain will clash with Czechia in the semifinal on Friday, with a trip to the final on the line. Spain last advanced to the finals in 2008, where the nation suffered a defeat against Russia. Spain has won the Billie Jean King Cup five times, most recently in 1998 when the Women's World Cup of Tennis was called the Fed Cup.
"For us, for the Spanish people, the Spanish Federation, I think this is one important achievement," Navarro added.
Billie Jean King Cup Finals schedule
All matches will be held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China.
Quarterfinals
- Tuesday, Sept. 22: Czechia 2, Great Britain 0
- Czechia's Marie Bouzkova def. Great Britain's Sonay Kartal, 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4
- Czechia's Linda Noskova def. Great Britain's Katie Boulter, 6-2, 7-6 (3)
- Wednesday, Sept. 23
- Spain 2, Kazakhstan 1
- Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro def. Kazakhstan's Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, 6-2, 6-2
- Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva def. Cristina Bucsa, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
- Spain's Cristina Bucsa/Sara Sorribes Tormo def. Kazakhstan's Anna Danilina/ Zhibek Kulambayeva.
- Ukraine vs Belgium | 10 p.m. ET
- Spain 2, Kazakhstan 1
- Thursday, Sept. 24: China vs Italy | 5 a.m. ET
Semifinals
- Friday, Sept. 25: Czechia vs Spain | 5 a.m. ET
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Winner of Match B vs Winner of Match C | 5 a.m. ET
Championship
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Winners of the semifinals | 5 a.m. ET
How to watch Billie Jean King Cup
The 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be available to stream on billiejeankingcup.com and the Tennis Channel app.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spain secures spot in Billie Jean King Cup semifinal with thrilling win over Kazakhstan
