US and Britain set up Billie Jean King Cup semifinal

SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend sent the United States into the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals for the first time since 2021 after beating Kazakhstan 2-1 on Thursday.

Pegula and Townsend topped Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-6 (1) in the deciding doubles.

In singles, Emma Navarro stunned Putintseva 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (6) after saving two match points. Putintseva led 6-4 in the tiebreak but Navarro took the last four points after 2 1/2 hours.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina evened the quarterfinal by dispatching Pegula 6-4, 6-1 in a top-10 clash.

Pegula brushed off her first loss to Rybakina in 2 1/2 years by pairing with Townsend, the world doubles No. 1 and two-time major doubles champion, who created some controversy this week in comments about Chinese food.

Townsend dominated the first set and the U.S. pair strode through the second set tiebreak, winning on a Rybakina double fault.

“I wanted to kind of redeem myself a little bit out there against her (Rybakina), try and help my team get a win,” Pegula said.

The U.S. will play Britain in the semifinals on Saturday.

Britain beat Japan after winning both singles in straight sets in their quarterfinal.

Sonay Kartal overcame Ena Shibahara 6-3, 7-6 (4). Shibahara had a break point for 5-4 in the second set and led 3-1 in the tiebreak. Katie Boulter clinched the tie by defeating Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-1 in their first career matchup.

In the other half of the draw, Ukraine faces defending champion Italy in the semifinals on Friday. Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina won singles matches over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Paula Badosa, respectively, to put Ukraine through to the final four. Italy beat host China.

The BJK Cup was formerly known as the Fed Cup, and the United States is the most successful team as an 18-time winner, but not since 2017.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Sonay Kartal, of Great Britain, right, celebrates with her team captain Anne Keothavong after defeating Ena Shibahara, of Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals tennis match, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena, in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan serves against Jessica Pegula of the United States during the Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals tennis match, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena, in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Emma Navarro, of the United States eyes on the ball as she plays against Yulia Putintseva, of Kazakhstan during the Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals tennis match, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena, in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Taylor Townsend and Jessica Pegula, of the United States play against Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva, of Kazakhstan during the Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals tennis doubles match, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena, in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

DODOMA, Tanzania (AP) — Tanzania’s president has, for the first time since the disputed October election, commented on a six-day internet shutdown as the country went through its worst postelection violence.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday expressed “sympathy” to diplomats and foreign nationals living in the country, saying the government would strive to ensure there is never a repeat of the same.

Hassan won the October election with more than 97% of the vote after candidates from the two main opposition parties were barred from running and the country’s main opposition leader remained in prison facing treason charges.

Violence broke out on election day and went on for days as the internet was shut down amid a heavy police crackdown that left hundreds of people dead, according to rights groups.

Hassan blamed the violence on foreigners and pardoned hundreds of young people who had been arrested, saying they were acting under peer pressure.

Speaking to ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of international organizations on Thursday in the capital, Dodoma, she sought to reassure envoys of their safety, saying the government would remain vigilant to prevent a repeat of the disruption.

“To our partners in the diplomatic community and foreigners residing here in Tanzania, I express my sincere sympathy for the uncertainty, service restrictions and internet shutdowns you experienced,” she said.

Hassan defended her administration, saying the measures were taken to preserve constitutional order and protect citizens.

“I assure you that we will remain vigilant to ensure your safety and prevent any recurrence of such experiences,” the president told diplomats on Thursday.

Tanzania has, since the October elections, established a commission of inquiry to look into the violence that left hundreds dead and property worth millions of shillings destroyed in a country that has enjoyed relative calm for decades.

Foreign observers said the election failed to meet democratic standards because key opposition figures were barred.

FILE - Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan delivers remarks during a campaign rally ahead of the general elections in Iringa, Tanzania, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo, File)