(Reuters) -Elina Svitolina sent Ukraine into the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time as she battled back to beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 5-7 6-2 7-5 in Shenzhen on Wednesday.

Marta Kostyuk had put Ukraine ahead in the quarter-final tie against the five-times champions by beating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-6(3) 6-2 in the opening singles.

Badosa looked on course to drag Spain back into contention as she took a tight first set but 31-year-old Svitolina seized control to win the second.

Svitolina was racing towards victory at 4-1 in the decider but Badosa launched a spirited fightback with some heavy hitting as the rallies grew more intense.

Badosa even had a break point to lead 6-5 but could not convert it and Svitolina then used all her experience to clinch the match o

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