Slovakia reach the last eight of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with a 2-1 victory over 18-time champions the United States.

Japan and Slovakia produced stunning comebacks to beat Romania and the United States 2-1, respectively, and reach the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup on Thursday. Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova had to dig deep to beat Ashlyn Krueger and Taylor Townsend 6-3 3-6 10-8 in the match tie-break of a thrilling doubles that went into the early hours of Friday.

Ambitious Australia will play Slovakia in the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals after the Europeans upset the USA in a thriller in Malaga. The ITF had billed the round-of-16 tie a "David versus Goliath battle" after Slovak Viktoria Hruncakova warned the US "we are a small country, but we have a big heart".

Ashlyn Krueger and Taylor Townsend saved six match points but ultimately lost the decisive doubles match as the United States was defeated 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 by Slovakia and was eliminated 2-1 in the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals early Friday.

Ashlyn Krueger and Taylor Townsend saved six match points but ultimately lost the decisive doubles match and the United States was defeated 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 by Slovakia and was eliminated in the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi took Japan into the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2013 on Thursday with a stunning comeback win over Romania. Aoyama and Hozumi defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Monica Niculescu 6-1,