SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) -The United States stayed on course for a record-extending 19th Billie Jean King Cup crown after Taylor Townsend and Jessica Pegula won the doubles decider to edge out Kazakhstan 2-1 in their quarter-final on Thursday.

The tie hung in the balance after American Emma Navarro had dramatically saved two match points to outlast Yulia Putintseva 7-5 2-6 7-6(6), only for an aggressive Elena Rybakina to level matters by dismantling world number seven Pegula 6-4 6-1.

Kazakhstan, eyeing their first final appearance, then rolled the dice by selecting Rybakina and Putintseva for the decisive doubles clash.

But the Americans — spearheaded by doubles world number one Townsend — had other plans when skipper Lindsay Davenport teamed her up with Pegula.

The U.S. pair survived

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