Emma Raducanu made a triumphant return to action as Great Britain cruised through to the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup.
The 22-year-old looked sharp on her comeback from her latest injury setback, defeating Germany’s Jule Niemeier 6-4 6-4 at Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes.
That gave Katie Boulter the chance to clinch victory and she wasted no time in wrapping up a 6-1 6-2 win against Laura Siegemund, sending Britain through to a meeting with defending champions Canada on Sunday.
Raducanu served an impressive 10 aces in her victory, although there were also seven double faults and she needed six match points to get across the line.
“I think I played some really good tennis today,” said Raducanu. “I haven’t played a match in a long time so I think these are small sharpness things that come. I’m very proud of how I managed to regroup and close out in that final game.”
Having been scheduled as the final match of the opening round at the Finals week, Britain then had to wait another hour and 25 minutes longer than planned as Poland completed victory over Spain.
That tie had been due to be played on Wednesday but was postponed because of the storm that hit Malaga earlier this week, causing flooding around the 3,564-seat temporary arena where the women’s tournament is being held.
A near four-hour match between Magda Linette and Sara Sorribes Tormo was followed by a three-set battle between Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa, which the world number two won to send Poland through to a quarter-final against the Czech Republic.
09:27 PM GMT
‘I’m a very proud captain’
Anne Keothevong hails two strong performances from her leading pair, who will be back on Sunday to take on Canada for a place in the semi-finals. The Team GB captain is hoping the ‘home’ crowd will be back too.
“I’m a very proud captain,” she said. “It was a fantastic performance from Emma and Katie tonight, it really was, the way they came out, for Emma having been off for a period of time, the way she dealt with everything, it was a good performance and then the way Katie started in this match to get the job done. I couldn’t be more proud of them.
“We’re ever so grateful for all the people who have travelled all the way from the UK to support this team and what we really need is for everyone come back again on Sunday and see us through, so please, please, come back!
09:21 PM GMT
‘It feels like we’re in Great Britain right now’
After a blistering display Boulter gives thanks to the crowd in Malaga, who have been noisy all night.
“Honestly, it feels like we’re in Great Britain right now,” she says. “Our fans are awesome, you always get behind us. In the good moments and the bad moments you’ve been with us on this journey, so thanks so much for coming here to Malaga. It means so much to all of us players.”
09:12 PM GMT
GB go 2-0 up
Can Katie Boulter serve it out to give Team GB a place in the quarter-finals?
She hits a spectacular crosscourt drive into the corner to go 30-15 up and then a poor shot from Siegemund is way too long, handing Boulter match point.
Boulter double-faults!
At the second attempt she makes no mistake, forcing a weak return from her second serve to take control of the rally, as she has the whole match if the truth be told, to unleash a clean winner and put GB in the last eight.
Well played.
Boulter’s movement was quite brilliant tonight and she had simply too much power for Siegemund, who was blown off the court in an hour and ten minutes.
Boulter wins 1-6, 2-6
Team GB go 2-0 up
09:07 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-6 Boulter*, 2-5 (*denotes server)
Boulter is enjoying herself now moving with confidence and hitting with enormous power.
But a couple of shots find the tramlines to cede the German game-point.
Siegemund comes to the net but can’t control the volley as Boulter fizzes a low shot at her feet.
Siegemund finds a lovely winner into the corner and Boulter goes long again to earn Germany a rare game.
09:02 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-6 Boulter*, 1-5 (*denotes server)
Better battling from Siegemund, who is trying to be aggressive in order not to let Boulter dominate.
She taker her to 30-30 but Boulter steps it up a gear and dominant serving finds no answers.
08:59 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-6 Boulter, 1-4 (*denotes server)
Boulter takes the first point with a ferocious backhand before Siegemund nets and then mishits a volley way off court.
Her final shot of the game is even worse as she underhits a simple drop-shot into the net with an open court at her mercy.
It’s looking ominous for Germany now.
Another break for GB.
08:54 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-6 Boulter*, 1-3 (*denotes server)
Siegemund takes the first two points and it looks as though she’s decided to come out of defensive mode now.
A delightful return followed by a searing crosscourt backhand is too hot for Boulter, who then nets to find herself on the verge of being broken back to love.
But the Briton displays some brilliant serving to win the next three points courtesy of serves in excess of 170kph
Siegemund, who was love-40 up, can’t deal with Boulter’s serving and Team GB go two games ahead.
08:50 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-6 Boulter, 1-2 (*denotes server)
Boulter takes the first two points some splendidly well-timed returns.
A lovely backhand pass makes it love-30, but she misses an easy backhand and then nets with another attempt at an explosive riposte.
Siegemund nets at 40-30 and then again at deuce after a rare long rally between two players both going for their shots.
Boulter looks beaten on the next point as Siegemund forces her to scamper across the court to get the ball back in play. Somehow she does and the surprised German then nets a straightforward pass with Boulter in no man’s land.
GB break.
08:43 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-6 Boulter, 1-1 (*denotes server)
Germany are threatening to spring to life. A delightful crosscourt drop-shot from Siegemund is too good for Boulter, who goes love-30 down before rallying with a booming passing short down the line and an explosive serve.
Siegemund nets to give Team GB game point and Boulter takes it with slow second serve that bamboozles her opponent, who nets again.
08:38 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-6 Boulter, 1-0 (*denotes server)
Siegemund took some time off court there, probably to give herself a talking to about her serving, which is either finding the net or being middled back at her with interest by Boulter.
Some wobbly serving on display again but somehow Siegemund battles to 40-30 as Boulter gets a bit too ambitious from the back of the court.
Game-point passes her by, though, putting more pressure on that serve of hers – she keeps getting let on her second serve, which can’t be good for the nerves.
The German hangs in there though and this time it’s Boulter to find the net and then hit long, giving Siegemund a rare service hold.
08:30 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-6 Boulter* (*denotes server)
An entertaining opening rally concludes with Siegemund netting an easy chance to put Boulter’s mishit drop-shot away.
A Boulter ace makes it 30-love, and though the German takes the next point, she can’t deal with Boulter’s power.
A passing forehand is too good, as is her serve on set-point, which the German can only feed into the net.
A commanding first set win there from Katie Boulter.
08:25 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-5 Boulter (*denotes server)
Siegemund wins the first point but then hits her second double-fault to cede 15-all.
Boulter then sends a glorious crosscourt backhand into the corner with lashings of top spin.
The Englishwoman loves that corner because she finds it again with a flat in-to-out forehand to go 40-15 up.
But successive ambitious passing shots hit the tramlines and then the net to give Siegemund hope.
Double fault No 3 rears its ugly head at deuce, though, and Siegemund can’t deal with Boulter’s fierce return to yet another weak second serve. And Boulter takes the game.
08:18 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-4 Boulter* (*denotes server)
Boulter’s backhand is really firing now and a screamer down the line followed by two big forehands gives her a 40-love lead.
She gracefully moves her feet before placing a delightful crosscourt forehand into the corner to take the game to love.
Confident hitting from Boulter.
08:15 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-3 Boulter (*denotes server)
Siegemund makes it 15-all after losing nine points in a row but is struggling to impose with her serve.
Boulter’s backhand down the line surprises the German, who then gifts two unforced errors in response to Boulter’s powerful hitting and Great Britain break serve again.
GB break again.
08:10 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-2 Boulter* (*denotes server)
And after that shonky start Boulter’s eye is in, holding to love with such graceful power on her forehand, pushing Siegemund deep before finishing it off with her first ace.
08:08 PM GMT
Siegemund* 1-1 Boulter (*denotes server)
Siegemund’s early double fault opens the door for Boulter at love-30 and Boulter then nails a return right to the baseline off a second serve to earn three break points.
She only needs one, going to the net to smoke a winner as Siegemund’s serve cracks straightaway.
GB break back.
08:04 PM GMT
Siegemund 1-0 Boulter* (*denotes server)
Scrappy start from Boulter on serve, running round a forehand and failing to keep it in, then slicing another too long. Love-30. Boulter wins the next two points when Siegemund’s forehand falters off Boulter’s slice but then the British No1 drags a forehand long to yield break point.
Siegemund starts with a break when Boulter whips a backhand off a slow ball into the net.
Germany break.
07:53 PM GMT
Katie Boulter up next
Laura Siegmund, who is the highest ranked of Germany’s singles players at 84, 63 places below the British No 1.
Richard Aikman will be taking over coverage in 15 minutes or so.
07:43 PM GMT
Raducanu speaks
I played some really good tennis, Playing Jule on an indoor hard court isn’t easy. I haven’t played for a long time. There were small sharpness things that will come the more matches I play. We had a lot of support. Thanks to everyone over here. It helps a lot, big time. We wouldn’t be here without every member of our team, playing their role, sacrificing lots of things. I’m proud of myself but proud of my team.
Raducanu is then serenaded with Happy Birthday by the crowd.
07:39 PM GMT
Raducanu wins in straight sets, GB go 1-0 up
Fatigue definitely set in at the end but she served well with 10 aces to Niemeier’s one and merely 21 unforced errors to the German’s 31. Positive signs.
07:38 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6, 4-6 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Raducanu nails the first serve to take a 15-love lead. A dainty and effective backhand drop shot levels it for Germany.
At 30-15, Raducanu double faults and there’s a hint of deja vu with her previous service game but she sticks to her guns in a long rally with plenty of precise, top-spun forehands until Niemeier drags her crosscourt wide.
A fifth match point goes begging with Niemeier stranded when she chips a hair’s breadth too long but an unreturnable serve results in a sixth match point.
And she wraps up victory at the sixth opportunity when Niemeier nets her backhand.
07:31 PM GMT
Niemeier* 4-6, 4-5 Raducanu (*denotes server)
At 15-all, Raducanu’s kicking return off a second serve eventually earns her the point. And when she monsters another second serve she gives herself two more match points.
Niemeier swings hard off her first serve to save the first and then Raducanu drags her return into the net to tie it at deuce.
And then Niemeier double faults once more. But Niemeier saves a fourth match point with a drop shot.
Raducanu chops a forehand into the net and Niemeier has advantage. Raducanu spears her return off the second serve wide and long and she’ll have to serve for the match once more.
07:23 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6, 3-5 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Raducanu rattles off a 10th ace and wins the next point off her second serve to move to 30-15. Fatigue sets in a little on the first serve and after a decent rally she smears a forehand from the centre of the court wide.
What a time to double fault! At match point. Deuce. Neimeier comes to the net to scythe a forehand winner to earn a break point.
Raducanu saves it with a fierce backhand crosscourt winner, stepping on to it off the baseline when her opponent left her return short.
Britain’s No2 tries to go to advantage with an ace off both serves and double faults. Break point.
And Niemeier finally gets the lucky break off the net cord to break Raducanu’s serve.
07:14 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6, 2-5 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
A couple of unforced errors, first on her forehand and then with her footwork, overrunning a drop shot, squander two points for Germany but at 15-30, Raducanu, sniffing an opportunity, cuffs an attempted big backhand drive into the net: 30-all.
An eighth double fault yields break point to Raducanu. And GB seize their chance with Raducanu’s bullet return that Niemeier couldn’t get back over the net.
07:09 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6, 2-4 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Raducanu’s reliability on the serve returns and she holds to love.
07:07 PM GMT
Niemeier* 4-6, 2-3 Raducanu (*denotes server)
After all that, Germany start with a double fault and Raducanu nails a return winner off the second serve to move to love-30.
A third spawny net cord gives Raducanu two break points. GB have had all the good fortune. Niemeier saves the first one with her second serve as Raducanu nets. The Briton will have another off another second serve and she takes it, winning the break back immediately when Niemeier nets a backhand.
She looks like Lindsay Davenport when her first serve lands. Peter Davenport when it doesn’t.
07:00 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6, 2-2 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Niemeier’s guts in that last service hold has given her a fillip and she scrambles to win a rally of drop shots after some fine returns to earn herself two break points.
And she needs only one, anticipating the wide serve to fire a winner off it from the deuce court.
Germany break back.
06:56 PM GMT
Niemeier* 4-6, 1-2 Raducanu (*denotes server)
Signs that Raducanu’s aggression has rattled Niemeier whose first serve has collapsed. She’s flirting with 30 per cent on getting her first serves in and Raducanu nails winners off her second serve to take it to 30-40. Germany save the break point at the net, tellingly off a first serve.
But then she double faults again to concede another break point. The first serve returns and earns her the next two points but Raducanu takes it back to deuce with a spiffing backhand.
But Niemeier gives herself hope by winning back-to-back points to wrap up the hold and she skips back to her seat as much in joy as relief.
06:48 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6, 0-2 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
An eighth ace, compared with her opponent’s zero, emphasises how much of a weapon she has. She lost merely nine points on her serve in the first set and only one in this game on an unforced error. Raducanu holds to 15.
06:44 PM GMT
Niemeier* 4-6, 0-1 Raducanu (*denotes server)
After a lengthy break Niemeier resumes and struggles with another double fault, her third, after her first serve cracks throughout. Then, at deuce, the pressure mounts and she coughs up another double fault. Advantage Raducanu.
Germany save the break point at the net by targeting the Raducanu backhand. But Niemeier hands advantage back when she pulls an inside-out forehand wide.
A stunning backhand return winner, flayed up the line, gives GB the break. Raducanu took that preposterously early.
06:31 PM GMT
Niemeier 4-6 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Raducanu serves for the set. Niemeier and her coach spent the break looking at a laptop screen, presumably to look at Raducanu’s serve tactics.
Raducanu starts the game with a fine forehand winner, getting very low to swat it off the return. And she doubles it with another drilled forehand. A kick serve gives her three set points and GB wrap up the hold to love when Raducanu unfurls the trusty wide serve into the ad court.
06:28 PM GMT
Niemeier* 4-5 Raducanu (*denotes server)
Niemeier frames an overhead, blinded by the lights, to make it love-15. She smiles and levels with a punishing serve down the T. Forcing Raducanu wide also pays dividends as Raducanu loses control of her return and booms it out.
But a gorgeous backhand crosscourt winner, caressing it off her laces, from the Briton makes it 30-all.
Niemeier shifts Raducanu from corner to corner in a fine rally and then smokes the winner with her forehand to make it 40-30 but her next forehand attempted pass drifts wide. Deuce.
Germany nail the first serve to take it to advantage and crafty approach play closes out the hold, Raducanu scrambling on her backhand side in vain to sustain a rally.
06:22 PM GMT
Niemeier 3-5 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Raducanu has the loudest members of the crowd on her side and the majority of the moronic ‘Let’s go’ ditties are sung in her favour. Niemeier starts the game brilliantly through to surge to love-30, blistering returns setting up opportunities for her to put Raducanu under pressure.
An even better return off a wide serve takes her to love-40. Raducanu saves the first beak point with a vicious serve that her opponent cannot get back, and the second with a wide, angled, spinning ace: 30-40.
And the third with a third successive fabulous serve. Deuce.
Niemeier devours a second serve to give herself a fourth break point. Raducanu defends that with a sizzling slice serve up the T off her second serve. Cojones.
At deuce Raducanu yields a double fault. Now she has to defend a fifth break point on her second serve and she does when Niemeier flaps a forehand wide.
After nine minutes Raducanu has her first game point, earned again with the serve and Niemeier crumbles at the end to spoon a return off a shortish serve into the net.
The noise when Emma Raducanu secured her first break of the match would have made her feel like she was playing in the UK.
It might be a temporary stand, but at three-quarters full there is no surprise who the majority of the supporters are there to see.
Cheers, drums and the trumpet all followed as Raducanu took the lead in the first set.
06:12 PM GMT
Niemeier* 3-4 Raducanu (*denotes server)
Niemeier’s serve shows signs of strain at 30-all and she double faults and then Raducanu reads the change of pace off her second serve for the next point to earn two break points.
Germany defend the first with a big serve and monster forehand but not the second. Raducanu pounces on a second serve to hammer a withering return winner up the line with her forehand.
GB break.
06:08 PM GMT
Niemeier 3-3 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Sharp defensive backhand play from Raducanu draws the error and takes her to 30-love. She goes big with her serve once too often, though and invites a blistering return that enables Niemeier to step inside and crash a forehand winner.
Raducanu’s second ace gives her game point, and her third follows straightaway.
06:02 PM GMT
Niemeier* 3-2 Raducanu (*denotes server)
Excellent forehand from deep, the racquet coming through above shoulder height and whipped viciously crosscourt, sets Niemeier up for an overhead winner at the net. It’s not until a neat backhand drops shot from Raducanu that she gets into the game and then a lucky net cord, for which she apologises, gives her a chance at 30-all.
Niemeier responds with a heavy serve up the T that Raducanu balloons back in regulation making it east for her opponent to smash. But a fine return from Raducanu takes it to deuce for the first time and Niemeier then double faults.
Break point, which she squanders from a place of advantage when he forehand winner up the line sails too long. A canny deep, wide serve from Niemeier allows her to come to the net and nail the winner and she battles back to hold with a kikc-serve.
05:56 PM GMT
Niemeier 2-2 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Everything going with service so far. Raducanu cruised to 40-love before she conceded a point with a double fault. Both serve and backhand functioning well so far, less so the forehand. By pushing Niemeier wide with her serves, she closes out the hold to 15 with ease.
05:51 PM GMT
Niemeier* 2-1 Raducanu (*denotes server)
Niemeier uses big slice to set up a forehand winner and follows that with a deep serve that Raducanu can only just get back over. It’s 40-love when Raducanu’s forehand falters again and then she fires a backhand return into the net and Germany hold to love.
Nothing much going for the returner so far. Early days.
05:49 PM GMT
Niemeier 1-1 Raducanu* (*denotes server)
Raducanu begins her service game by misjudging a forehand groundstroke, again firing it too long but levels at 15-all with a fine serve, wide to Niemeier’s backhand that she can’t get back over the net. Next she unfurls an ace, hit to the widest legal extremity of the left court.
When Niemeier pulls her next return into the net, Raducanu has two game points, and she needs only one, setting up a forehand winner off another wide serve, this time a second serve. Aggressive tactics on the serve pay off.
05:45 PM GMT
Niemeier* 1-0 Raducanu (*denotes server)
Jule Niemeier begins serving smartly, racing to 40-love as Raducany struggles for precision, firing a backhand up the tramlines and hooking a return miles too long but as soon as she is given an opportunity, she is in like Flynn, pouncing on a short forehand to fire a winner. But Niemeier closes out the quick hold with a serve-volley tactic that catches her opponent by surprise.
05:43 PM GMT
Time to start
Right they’re just about ready to go. I am going to experiment with a radical tennis blogging change, asterisking the actual server of each game rather than the endlessly mystifying ‘denotes next server’. Hopefully the format will sustain this revolution and will stay upright. If this is what was undrerpinning the structure of the Telegraph’s tennis blogging empire, I apologise.
05:36 PM GMT
Germany win the toss
And Niemeier elects to serve but first, the knock-up.
05:31 PM GMT
A pause for the national anthems
God Save the King followed by the Deutschlandlied as the two teams line up by the net.
05:27 PM GMT
Here come the players
The two camps are sitting behind the flags of their respective nations, while fans queue up outside the temporary arena to come in.
Great Britain are likely to be well-supported with many of those arriving wearing Union Flag hats, scarves, or in some cases trousers.
The court has been lit up to add to the occasion, with the lines lit up against a dark blue backdrop as the DJ chooses crowd favourites to add to the atmosphere.
05:26 PM GMT
Toady’s tie
Is being shown in the UK on BBC iPlayer, bbc.co.uk/tennis and on the Tennis Channel.
Coverage should begin imminently and the tie, Raducanu’s first match for 54 days since withdrawing from the Korea Open with an injured foot, is due to begin in 10 minutes.
05:06 PM GMT
Warming up
04:54 PM GMT
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04:47 PM GMT
Fan swap
There will be an exchange of fans ahead of the Great Britain clash, and those wanting to watch Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter will be arriving at the venue soon.
There is expected to be a reasonable attendance, although not the same as the home support for the earlier match between Spain and Poland.
There was a casual event for GB fans by the marina in the centre of Malaga, and at least some have travelled locally from expat communities to watch the Billie Jean King Cup finals.
However, as the event was originally due to take place in Seville, some fans travelled to Spain but have been left to arrange their own transport to Malaga, when the venue was moved in July.
04:39 PM GMT
The moment of victory for Swiatek
04:25 PM GMT
Swiatek wins 6-3 6-7 6-1
So Poland go 2-0 up and move into the quarter-final.
Raducanu’s match against Niemeier is on next but that will be at 5.25pm GMT.
04:23 PM GMT
Play has resumed in Malaga
Swiatek is serving at 4-1 up in the third set.
04:14 PM GMT
Play has been temporarily suspended in Malaga
With Swiatek 4-1 up in the third set. Medical emergency in the crowd is the suggestion.
03:52 PM GMT
A fond farewell
The Davis Cup starts at the same venue on Tuesday, overlapping with the latter stages of the BJK Cup, and Harriet dart, for one, wants to hang around long enough to see the last knockings of a great career:
“It’s going to be iconic with Rafa retiring here. Growing up, you idolise someone like him. He’s been so special for the game, and everything he stands by and the way he is on the court as a competitor, I mean, it’s super inspiring. It’s going to be cool to be around, and hopefully we’ll be here for as long as possible.”
03:32 PM GMT
Swiatek has lost the second set tie-break
So the second match in Poland v Spain goes to a decider. Should Paula Badosa win the third set to make it 1-1 after Linette’s victory over Sorribes Tormo, then the tie will be decided by a doubles match and we could be here all night!
03:24 PM GMT
Badosa holds her serve
Taking the second set to a tie-break with Swiatek.
03:23 PM GMT
BJK argues for change in scoring system
Billie Jean King wants tennis to change its traditional scoring system to attract the next generation of fans.
The use of the word “love” to mean zero and points going in a 15-30-40 sequence have been used in tennis for centuries, but the multiple grand slam winner believes it is confusing for younger supporters.
“I want to make it easy for fans. I think it should be 1-2-3-4 not 15-love, 30-love,” King told BBC Sport. “If you are a kid – I didn’t come from tennis – what the heck does that mean? If we want to get eight, nine, 10, 11, 12-year-old children involved in our sport we have to make it accessible to them – not to a 60-year-old fan.”
Personally I think it’s the least of tennis’s worries in attracting a new audience. I have never understood the argument that tradition is confusing. It only takes a minute to explain it and once understood, it’s understood for life.
What do you think?
03:20 PM GMT
In Spain vs Poland
Iga Swiatek is 6-5 up in the second set against Paula Badosa and one set up. The starting time for GB vs Germany is dependent on when this tie finishes.
03:16 PM GMT
‘Take care of Raducanu’
Billie Jean King: ‘Be patient with Raducanu’
The Billie Jean King Cup finals take place in Malaga this week, with Great Britain’s team including Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter.
Raducanu has been plagued by a series of injuries affecting her time on court since she won the US Open in 2021, but King believes she needs a sustained period away from the treatment table before her ability is scrutinised because it is hard to build momentum.
“If she can stay healthy long enough, then we’ll see how good she is,” King said. “It takes a lot to come back from injury and you have got to be very patient.”
Only two players from the top 10 are involved in the BJK Cup Finals – Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, with Coco Gauff, of the United States, among those who have dropped out on the eve of the tournament.
Injuries have had an impact on availability, but players have grown increasingly vocal about the length of the season, with competitions scheduled almost non-stop throughout the year.
However, King thinks those involved cannot complain about the regular WTA Tour season and then use their time off to take part in lucrative exhibition matches.
03:08 PM GMT
The matches have been announced now
Jule Niemeier (GER) vs Emma Raducanu (GBR)
Laura Siegemund (GER) vs Katie Boulter (GBR)
Anna-Lena Friedsam/Tatjana Maria (GER) vs Olivia Nicholls/Heather Watson (GBR)
02:08 PM GMT
Preview: Raducanu’s happy return(s)
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Billie Jean King Cup play-off match between Great Britain and Germany, the winner of which will advance to play the holders Canada in the quarter-final. Anne Keothavong has her top three singles players – Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart to select from for the two singles matches in the best of three tie with a doubles match to follow should it be 1-1 after them. Dart was part of the team that made it to the semi-finals in Glasgow in 2022 but it seems likely, if yet unconfirmed, that Raducanu and Boulter, ranked 58th and 24th in the world respectively, will get the nod to take on two of Laura Siegemund, 84th, Eva Lys, 130th or Jule Niemeier, 92nd.
“While it’s the end of the season for a lot of players, I feel I’m just beginning to kick-start and get things in motion, training really well, training hard, and already building towards next year,” said Raducanu yesterday. “I’m not really looking to have any more time off. I’m just looking forward to competing here this week and taking however this goes and improving on it for next year.”
Heavy rain and flooding pushed the start of the event back from Wednesday to Thursday but teams were unable to practise with the venue locked down, which meant Raducanu enjoyed a rather more subdued 22nd birthday than planned. “I’m really grateful that my team, they made a really big effort yesterday to make me feel really special,” she said. “There was birthday banners, cake, balloons. It was really nice, considering the weather. We couldn’t really go out or do anything, but it’s just how it goes. Even though those were the conditions, I still had a great time. It was very memorable.”
The tie is scheduled to start at 4pm GMT but that depends on the Spain v Poland matches, the first of which, Magda Linette’s 1-6-2-6,6-4 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo took nine minutes shy of four hours to complete. Should Iga Swiatek make swift work of Paula Badosa (she won the first set 6-3 in 45 minutes) we might be spared the doubles decider and start roughly on time. If Badosa fights back, we could be in for a very long wait.
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