Emma Raducanu displayed a combination of ruthlessness, grit and determination in a “very difficult” contest as Great Britain ousted reigning champions Canada to reach the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup.
A blistering start against Canada’s Rebecca Marino saw Raducanu claim the opening set 6-0 without looking troubled, while she was forced to battle in the second before winning it 7-5.
The tie itself brought Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez on opposing sides three years on from their memorable contest in the 2021 US Open final, although the rules of the team event dictated there would not be a rematch between the pair.
Instead, Fernandez, as Canada’s highest-ranked singles player was pitted against British number one Katie Boulter.
Britain went into the second game with a 1-0 lead following Raducanu’s victory, and Boulter secured their place in the semi-finals with a dominant straight-sets 6-2, 6-4 win over the former world number 13.
Blistering start by Raducanu
Raducanu enjoyed a blistering start, but had to weather the storm at times in the second set, as she regained her focus at a key moment, to allow her to defend, and then capitalise.
At 4-3 down in the second, Raducanu utilised her serve to save four break points in a single game that lasted almost 13 minutes, before breaking at a crucial moment to win Great Britain’s opening match.
“It was an incredibly difficult match because the dynamics were so different in each of the sets,” Raducanu explained.
Marino, ranked just outside the top 100, was offered no opportunity to gain a foothold in the opening games as Raducanu stormed to take the first set 6-0, while the Canadian struggled to get going.
Although, taking such a decisive lead almost proved counter-productive. “I think it’s always difficult actually when you win a set so comfortably by the scoreline, because you almost think in your head, ‘something might go wrong here, there is no way I’m going to cruise through the entire match.’ So I was expecting it.”
What Raducanu then experienced was a fast-serving onslaught followed by a powerful forehand that put the 22-year-old Briton firmly on the back foot.
Remodelled serve impressed again
Relying on her serve, which has undergone work and was impressive in the opening win against Germany’s Jule Niemeier, and again against Marino, Raducanu saved seven break points in the second set across two games, and then went on the attack.
“I’m really pleased with how I managed to step up on those big points, big moments,” Raducanu said. “I think I just need to keep reminding myself those clutch situations is where I really kind of thrive and I really enjoy them for the most part.”
She added: “I think it [her serve] helped me out a lot in some big moments.
“I hit a few double faults, but I think I take them with a grain of salt when I can serve my way out of trouble as well.”
Having arrived in Malaga without a run of matches behind her after more than five weeks on the sidelines with a foot injury sustained in Seoul, Raducanu has thrived in the team environment.
Sat on a bench alongside non-playing captain Anne Keothavong and in front of her fellow team mates and support staff, as well as a vocal crowd of largely British-supporting fans in the temporary arena at the Palacio de Deportes, Raducanu seemed at ease in the environment.
Team tournaments are limited in tennis, with only the Billie Jean King Cup and the Olympics offering a similar camaraderie that is the foundation other sports.
“The more I play the Billie Jean King Cup, the more I enjoy it. The more I feel like the stakes are so high but in a really relaxed and exciting way.
“I’m happy to be a part of the team and really happy to put some good level out in my singles matches.
“I haven’t played for two months, so for me, it’s a really good introduction to match play.”
Fernandez’s failed by faltering serve
In the second match, Fernandez looked a very different player to the last time she was on the same court as Raducanu, three years prior.
Her serve, which had been smooth three years ago, faltered at key moments as she appeared to be either reaching too far forward or backwards, and on more than one occasion had to re-do her throw, as well as nine double faults.
As Raducanu had done the round previously, Boulter struggled to close, double faulting on her first match point, but secured her team’s place in the next round with her fourth.
The British number one has enjoyed an impressive season, breaking into the world top 25 for the first time, and looked just as comfortable against Fernandez, as she had in the opening tie when she blew away Laura Siegemund.
Great Britain will take on Slovakia in the semi-finals on Tuesday, after they beat Australia in Sunday’s earlier tie.
08:25 PM GMT
Keothavong: ‘We can win this competition’
Team GB captain Anne Keothavong says she has high hopes for this Great Britain team, who face Slovakia in the last four after they beat Australia.
“We were highly motivated for this and credit to all the other team members, we wanted to give as much energy to her as possible – we knew how important it was,” she says. “But Katie went out there and she was absolutely crunching the ball, and it was fantastic to see, apart from the fact that it’s a great position to go in, when Emma sets the bar high gets the win under her belt and Katie goes out there and takes a swing at it. When she strikes that ball it’s devastating.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the girls. I really believe that we’ve got a team that can win this competition. We’re not there yet, there’s still some work to do, but we can enjoy this moment, Slovakia will prove to be another tough challenge for us, but anything’s possible.”
08:13 PM GMT
Boulter: ‘It’s finally coming together’
Katie Boulter is in high spirits after her win, joking at first that “I was doubting myself all the way through!”
She says: “I’m really happy with my level today. Emma makes it very easy to come out here and have a swing at 1-0 up so full credit to her for staring us off well.
“Really proud of my performance today, I just wanted to come out here and really go at the defending champions and hopefully get a big win and, yeah, really pleased with myself.
“Last night in the team room Emma told me to slow it down a bit so she could get out here and watch, so I slowed it down for her – I feel like I’m being a team player right now.
“I feel like I’ve been here quite a while now, in, I don’t know, Euro-Africa zone –- but we were playing a lot of matches just to get through, I feel like we’ve been building for some time now, and I feel like it’s finally coming together, we’ve got a great team, with all the girls here, we’ve got a great chemistry going on. So proud of everyone here.”
07:56 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-6, 4-6 Boulter*
Boulter plays a measured first point, keeping the ball in play and seizing the moment to strike with Fernandez out of position.
But then she sprays a terrible forehand into the net with a clearly nervous shot.
A much-needed ace and she’s two points away from victory.
What happened there? Looked like the point was won for Boulter as she tried to wrong-foot Fernandez but Fernandez hadn’t moved and sent a hopeful shot back towards the baseline – and it dropped in.
A rocket serve is netted by Fernandez and it’s match point – but Boulter double-faults again.
Can she respond to the jitters?
Yes, that’s an ace for match point No 3, but the demons are beginning to toy with her mind now as Boulter finds the net with the simplest of forehands.
Boom! Fernandez can’t return that serve either and it’s match point No 4.
This time Fernandez nets her return and Boulter has done it, after making very heavy weather of that last set.
Great Britain win match 2-0
07:48 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-6, 4-5 Boulter
Boulter pounds a service return at Fernandez’s feet and she can only block a forehand long.
Boulter earns love-30 with a sweeping forehand, but Fernandez comes out swinging herself and twice hits the line in the same point with a whipped backhand and a drive volley. She’s probably earned that luck.
Inevitably, though, at 30-all she gifts another double-fault to bring up match point.
But Boulter can’t take it, sending a regulation forehand long.
At deuce Fernandez produces a rare thing – an ace!
And a disappointing return from Boulter hands Fernandes the game.
Could this be a comeback?
07:43 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-6, 3-5 Boulter*
Boulter is serving for the match and a place in the semi-finals for Great Britain.
Fernandez returns well but hits the top of the net with a double-handed backhand to give Boulter the first point – and yet more confidence.
The Canadian returns well but Boulter uncharacteristically nets with her forehand.
A blistering crosscourt backhand makes it 30-15 but as Fernandez just looks to stay in the point Boulter nets again. Is she getting nervous?
I think so. Fernandez stays in the point and then Boulter blazes wide with her backhand and it’s a long-awaited break for the Canadian.
Canada break serve.
07:37 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-6, 2-5 Boulter
Boulter is experimenting with some new shots now. On that occasion she moved her feet at the last second to deliver a whippy forehand from inside to out. Totally bamboozled Fernandez even though she was standing on that side.
Fernandez is serving better in this game, having decided to throw caution to the wind and she takes the game with two wonderful forehands that Boulter can’t get near.
07:34 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-6, 1-5 Boulter*
Boulter goes 30-love up with a big serve and an unforced error from Fernandez who nets an ambitious crosscourt forehand.
The Briton responds to a fifth double-fault with two blistering aces and there’s nothing Fernandez could have done about that.
07:30 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-6, 1-4 Boulter
Fernandez is not giving up and she forces two mistakes on the Boulter forehand to earn two game-points.
Boulter saves one with a piecing angled crosscourt forehand, but has no answer to smart play from Fernandez, who has her on the run before finally forcing her opponent out of position to pick out a backhand winner, and her first game of the set.
Well done Fernandez, it’s no less than you deserve.
07:26 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-6, 0-4 Boulter*
Boulter is seeing the ball the size of footballs right now.
Fernandez is returning serve, but not with the requisite power, and Boulter is punishing Fernandez with her ferocious forehand.
The diminutive Canadian continues to hare around the court and show plenty of resolve to stay in the rallies but at 30-all she sends a regulation forehand into the net.
Boulter misses for a change with a backhand from the baseline and decelerates into her next forehand to net to hand Fernandes a break-point. You feel this a crucial point in the match.
Boulter saves break-point with a brutal second serve, but a double-fault puts her up against it again.
But the Briton is playing brilliantly and after a long exchange of big baseline hitting she executes a pulverising passing shot down the line.
A rare overhit from Boulter and it’s break-point again, but Boulter again rises to the occasion firing a glorious crosscourt forehand into the corner for her ninth forehand winner.
She battles her way to Advantage and after another long rally Fernandez can’t keep her forehand in play.
Boulter is playing very well but the score is not a fair reflection of the match, which is competitive and close-fought.
07:14 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-6, 0-3 Boulter
That’s great play from Boulter, who is returning well and then hitting her spots with her forehand.
Even when Fernandez gets her serves in Boulter is there with a block return, and then a barrage of meaty groundstrokes.
Great Britain bring up another break point and Fernandez looks to have the point won – only to be betrayed by another net-cord when her pass down the line looked a gimme.
Luck really is not on Canada’s side right now.
Great Britain break serve.
07:10 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-6, 0-2 Boulter*
That must have been soul-crushing for Fernandez, who now needs to dig deep to avoid this match getting away from her.
But Boulter is turning up the power on her forehand and her serve. As if to rub in Fernandez’s deficiencies she wins the game with back-to-back aces.
07:07 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-6, 0-1 Boulter
Fernandez keeps getting into good positions in a game but then gifting her opponent double-faults.
Double-fault No 5 duly arrives at 30-15 but she battles her way back to earn game-point only to be cruelly denied by an other favourable Boulter net cord.
But she doesn’t give up and earns another Advantage with a superb reverse volley at the net.
Boulter booms a forehand winner but backs it up with another that’s far too long.
Fernandez waves goodbye to game-point with another double-fault and then overhits a forehand to give Boulter break-point, which she hands to her on a silver platter with yet another double. I counted four in that game.
Great Britain break serve
06:58 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-6 Boulter*
Fernandez somehow returns a torpedo of a serve from Boulter but she can’t respond to another one of those forehands, which is deep and catches the Canadian on her heels.
Boulter, after going long, hits a peach of a crosscourt drive on 30-all and then places another one beyond Fernandez’s reach to the cheers of ‘Let’s go, Katie, let’s go!”.
Boulter is hitting with superior quality and, crucially, not serving as badly as Fernandez.
That is what has cost her so far.
Great Britain win first set.
06:53 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-5 Boulter
Fernandez is struggling with her serve. She displayed great speed across the ground and hit some aggressive forehands to go 40-15 up, but three double-faults in the game hands Boulter a 5-2 lead.
She has had break points against her in every single service game and Boulter has taken three of them.
Great Britain break serve.
06:47 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-4 Boulter*
Boulter is trying to back up her serve with some big forehands but her first serve is starting to let her down and her forehands are landing a touch long.
With Fernandez just trying to stay in the points and await unforced errors Boulter might need to exert more caution. But this time she sends the Canadian scampering from side to side with some solid shots of ehr own and Fernandez nets.
The Canadian makes a good-looking return on 30-all but Boulter was on to it in a flash and stumped Fernandez with a whipping forehand.
An unforced error and Boulter holds.
06:42 PM GMT
Fernandez* 2-3 Boulter
Boulter returns the first serve brilliantly and then forces Fernandez wide with a well-placed backhand. It’s all Fernandez can do to slap it back and Boulter is at the net to finish a well-constructed point.
At 15-30 Boulter winds up a big inside-to-outside forehand but just misses. And Boulter mishits another passing chance to give Fernandez game-point.
Fernandez comes to the net but is unable to do anything other than bat Boulter’s shots back at her. Forced wide she leaves the court open for Boulter to convert.
Boulter then sets up break-point with a scorching forehand Fernandez can barely get her racket to.
But Fernandez, on second serve, fools Boulter with a slider that forces the Briton wide.
Boulter earns another break-point though with some deep, confidently-struck groundstrokes, and Fernandez, whose serve is looking frail, especially on the second serve, goes for broke with a forehand that is just wide.
The servers are struggling just now.
Great Britain break serve.
06:34 PM GMT
Fernandez 2-2 Boulter*
Boulter kicks off with a double-fault and responds well to love-30 with two big serves and a powerful forehand that Fernandez tries and fails to get back in play.
But the Canadian returns brilliantly to force deuce and then Boulter appears to change her mind mid-point and sends a forehand into the tramlines.
Some brilliant hitting from both players there but Fernandez’s perfectly timed forehand is too hot for Boulter to handle and she nets and loses her serve.
Canada break serve
06:28 PM GMT
Fernandez* 1-2 Boulter
At 15-all Boulter returns well and then whips a vicious forehand across court straight on to the line again.
Fernandez is a tricky customer though and is looking to make Boulter move from side to side.
But the Canadian booms a forehand a shade long and there’s a break-point for Boulter.
Fernandez gets lucky with a favourable net cord that almost turned into a double-fault but after a nice rally in which both players fire off a wonderful array of shots Fernandez middles the net, giving Boulter a break.
Great Britain break serve.
06:23 PM GMT
Fernandez 1-1 Boulter*
After ceding the first point Boulter takes the next two with two impressive serves, the second an ace.
The Briton goes too deep with her forehand to bring up 30-all and in the next point she is saved by a fortuitous net cord which leaves Fernandez with no chance.
Boulter takes the game, which will be a relief, as Fernandez is a bit like a wall: whatever you throw at her seems to come back over the net.
06:19 PM GMT
Fernandez* 1-0 Boulter
It’s a must-win match for Canada and Leylah Fernandez is wearing her game face.
She loses the first point after a shonky serve but Boulter goes long with her next return and a powerful forehand is also adjudged to have travelled beyond the baseline although that was a close call.
A double-fault lets Boulter back in, though, and the Briton then creams a backhand crosscourt on to the line to earn break point.
Fernandez hangs in there with a real slider of a serve and moves brilliantly on the next ponit to earn game-point, which she converts with a wonderfully accurate lefty forehand,
06:10 PM GMT
Raducanu: ‘We all just fight extra hard’
On the crowd: “We had some competition with another band but I think we snuck the win! Much appreciated to everyone supporting. Of course, it was an honour to play in front of Billie Jean King herself and Conchita [Martinez].”
On playing in the Billie Jean King Cup: “My Billie Jean King Cup performances have brought very good things out of me and I think it is the same for everyone.
“We all just fight extra hard, dig in a little bit. It is an honour to be representing my country carrying on and scoring a point and hopefully Boults [Katie Boulter] comes out and does the same.”
06:06 PM GMT
Raducanu: ‘Rebecca really upped her level’
Raducanu is understandably pleased to have overcome Marino after such a trying second set.
“It was an incredibly difficult match because the dynamics were so different in each of the sets,” she says. “In the second set, Rebecca really upped her level and was serving great, a lot more first serves which made it more difficult to get into her service game.
“I’m very pleased with how I managed to fend off my own break points and then sneak that break at 5-5 and close it out.”
On getting that break: “When you’re playing a big-serving opponent like Rebecca, who is such a big server, you know there is so much emphasis on each serve. It definitely helped to have the support of our band on every single point so thank you.”
05:49 PM GMT
Marino 0-6, 5-7 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Raducanu plays steady tennis to go 30-love up. Nothing too silly, just stay in the point.
A booming ace arcs away from the helpless Marino and suddenly it’s match point.
Another double-fault, and some smart shot selection by Marino, who gets Raducanu on the run and beats her with a crosscourt pass.
Can Raducanu convert her third match point?
After another long exchange, Marino goes a fraction too deep with her attempted pass.
A match of two very contrasting sets.
Raducanu was in utter control in the first and showed incredible resolve and durability when her opponent sprang to life.
Marino served much better in the second set and barely gave Raducanu a look-in. In fact the Briton looked likelier to have her serve broken in that marathon 13-minute game.
But real champions know how to guts it out when the going gets tough and Raducanu showed great heart to respond to the resurgent Canadian.
Great Britain go 1-0 up.
05:44 PM GMT
Marino* 0-6, 5-6 Raducanu (denotes server)
Both players are finding the lines with their shots but at 30-15 Marino hits the netcord and the ball balloons in the air offering Raducanu an easy put-away.
She booms a serve to go 40-30 up but after Marino seemingly had control of another long rally Raducanu dispatches an incredible crosscourt forehand on the run into the corner when she looked beaten all ends up.
Raducanu takes the next point with a brilliant return to earn a crucial break point.
And another fierce return puts Marino on the back foot and Raducanu capitalises with a controlled forehand.
Great Britain break serve
05:38 PM GMT
Marino 0-6, 5-5 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Raducanu needs to hold serve to stay in the second set and she will be hoping it’s not another marathon service game.
She gets the better of her opponent to go 30-love up, Marino not helping herself with a backhand slice that allowed Raducanu time to get back in the point.
A big serve brings her to within a point of the game, and although she misses her first chance with a big forehand, she takes the game when Marino hits a meaty forehand high and long.
05:34 PM GMT
Marino* 0-6, 5-4 Raducanu (denotes server)
In the first point Marino gets aggressive on her serve and comes to the net, but Raducanu passes her with a dipping forehand that clips the baseline.
Raducanu takes the next point with another fine forehand to go 30-love up but Marino ratchets up her serving and powers her way to five straight points, the final one taken with a brave crosscourt forehand that somehow picks out the far corner.
05:30 PM GMT
Marino 0-6, 4-4 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Raducanu has a fight on her hands now. Marino is returning better and striking the ball with confidence. She seemed unsettled in the first set and appeared to be struggling with the bright lights.
A long rally on 40-30 and Raducanu’s crosscourt forehand flies wide giving Team Canada hope.
Marino’s backhand is now firing and that’s glorious crosscourt shot that Raducanu can only reach with the top of her racket head.
Brave serving from Raducanu saves break-point, but Marino hits three big forehands n the next point, culminating in a powerful drive volley to earn another break point.
Canada waste the opportunity again, with a bad mishit, but Raducanu keeps opening the door.
Marino again narrowly misses with an attempted crosscourt forehand.
Raducanu hangs in there, forcing Marino on the run, and the Canadian misses this time with her forehand.
Raducanu finally has a glimpse at game-point with a big serve but lets Marino back in.
Neither player seem able to seize the chance when it’s offered, but as the game enters it’s 13th minute, Raducanu finally takes hers to level the set again.
05:20 PM GMT
Raducanu’s blistering first set
Marino might be ranked just outside the top 100, but Raducanu has eased into this game with a grit and determination.
Going four games up without reply in the opening set has entertained the majority of the three-quarters full stadium, and she has not put a foot wrong.
In the first match against Germany, Raducanu had a few fortunate points with balls that just dropped over the net, and she had another in the opening game.
But that did not decide the course of the opening exchanges. When Marino was tentative on her serve, Raducanu capitalised, and followed it up with similarly impressive serves that she displayed on Friday night.
05:17 PM GMT
Marino* 0-6, 4-3 Raducanu (denotes server)
Marino’s growing confidence is reflected a brilliant backhand to win the first point. She didn’t have much to aim at but she went for the shot and found the corner with a delicious helping of top spin.
The rallies are getting longer with Marino hitting slower shots perhaps to upset Raducanu’s rhythm.
Another fine forehand gives her the game and she edges in front in the set once again.
05:14 PM GMT
Marino 0-6, 3-3 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Raducanu starts off with two booming serves to go 30-love up but then an unforced error and a double-fault brings her opponent back into the equation.
Marino tries to punish a slow second serve but totally mishits it and Raducanu serves out for another hold.
05:10 PM GMT
Marino* 0-6, 3-2 Raducanu (denotes server)
Marino hits a serve at 191km/hr to bring up game-point after an evenly-contested game, but after another lung-bursting rally Raducanu moves her opponent to the extent that she can’t reach her racket head around her attempted backhand.
A searing forehand brings up another advantage for the Canadian and she takes the game after Raducanu nets a backhand on the run.
Marino seems ot have settled now and it’s become more of a contest now.
05:06 PM GMT
Marino 0-6, 2-2 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Marino has responded really well in this set. It would have been easy to crumble but she is hanging in there and clearly trying to cause problems with her booming forehand.
Raducanu commits a rare unforced error with a simple forehand into the net, but then Marino sends a sliced backhand into the tramlines to forego a look at two break points.
Raducanu double-faults, although a long, hard look at the service line suggests she doesn’t agree it was out.
A long rally ensues, which Raducanu wins, showing great athleticism before forcing another error, but then she errs herself, hitting long. She saves another break-point as Marino hits a regulation forehand into the net but Marino gets a third break-point after outlasting Raducanu with some solid groundstrokes of her own.
It’s deuce again as Raducanu’s serve saves her once more and Marino nets her next return after the Briton cleverly changes serve direction and speed.
Raducanu clings on to hold serve as Marino’s blistering return goes a fraction long. That must have been a hard one ot take for the Canadian, but true grit from Raducanu.
04:55 PM GMT
Marino* 0-6, 2-1 Raducanu (denotes server)
Whatever you can do…
Marino takes the game to love with some superb serving – three aces bring her the game.
04:52 PM GMT
Marino 0-6, 1-1* Raducanu (denotes server)
Raducanu, as though she has taken umbrage at her opponent taking a game, wins the next one to love.
Three big forehands and an ace brings her level in the set.
04:50 PM GMT
Marino* 0-6, 1-0 Raducanu (denotes server)
That will do wonders for Marino, who was blown away in the first set.
Better serving and some confident groundstrokes has earned her a game on the board
04:47 PM GMT
Marino 0-6 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Marino hits a great return in the first point but Raducanu sends it back with interest catching Marino cold.
Raducano is totally in control of her powers right now and those powers looks too much for Marino.
The first ace of the match brings up game-point and she toys with Marino in the final point sending her left and right, left and right, and then wrong-footing her by sending the ball down the line in the space her opponent has just vacated.
It’s as one-sided as the scoreline suggests.
04:42 PM GMT
Marino* 0-5 Raducanu (denotes server)
Marino is trying to test Raducanu’s fitness and the Briton is answering her questions. A clever drop shot looks unreachable but Raducanu gets there and executes a delicious lob over the tall Canadian.
Marino forces a rare Raducanu error but then is passed by a screeching forehand down the line.
Marino battles to game-point but hits her intended backhand down the line into the top of the net.
She can’t afford to let such chances go by and Raducanu punishes her by taking the next two points.
04:38 PM GMT
Marino 0-4 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Raducanu hits a wonderful opening winner with controlled power, but an unforced error and a double-fault helps her opponent out.
A lovely backhand crosscourt shot and then a wicked disguised forehand to catch her opponent flat-footed gives her 40-30 and in the middle of the next rally Marino moonballs a straightforward forehand into row z. It’s now 4-0.
04:32 PM GMT
Marino* 0-3 Raducanu (denotes server)
At 15-15 Raducanu plays some brilliant tennis, hanging in the rally as Marino adopted a range of wicked slice shots.
Raducanu bides her time and then pinpoints that backhand again with a well-placed forehand into the corner.
Team GB force break-point with another unforced error from Marino on the backhand side but Raducanu then goes for two overly ambitious winners and it’s deuce.
Raducanu makes the mistake of allowing the Canadian to cream another forehand on break point No 2 but a badly missed smash brings up another break point opportunity for Kent’s finest.
Both players exchange a long rally forehand to forehand from the baseline and then Raducanu picks her moment and her spot with a delightful crosscourt forehand to go win her third straight game.
04:27 PM GMT
Marino 0-2 Raducanu* (denotes server)
Raducanu holds to love with an impressive game.
She starts off with three big serves and a powerful forehand into the corner.
Raducanu looks like she means business.
04:24 PM GMT
Marino* 0-1 Raducanu (denotes server)
It’s a promising start for Raducanu who has started out by giving her opponent some running to do.
After losing the first two points Marino battles back to 30-all with two big serves, and after Raducanu forces an error for game-point Marino passes her to earn deuce with Raducanu charging to the net.
It’s quite cagey and cat-and-mouse to start with, both players hitting some gentle shots as they feel each other out.
But Raducanu twice forces errors on the Marino backhand to break her opponent in the first game.
GB break serve
04:18 PM GMT
Marino reborn
Marino is 33 years old and has recently rediscovered her joie de jouer after taking a break from the game to study English Literature at University. Her game has come together in recent months and she particularly enjoys playing on indoor hard courts, which is presumably why she was selected to play today.
Raducanu is also feeling revitalised. Her injury enforced lay-off enabled her to go to China, where she spent some time with her Grandma, playing the piano and feeling ‘zen’. There was nothing chilled about her on Friday, though, when she powered her way to victory.
04:12 PM GMT
Raducanu loses toss
Emma Raducanu and Rebecca Marino are at the net and it’s a poor start by Team GB, who called tails when the obvious decision to make was heads. Never mind. Marino elects to serve first and we will shortly be good to go.
04:08 PM GMT
Music cranked up
The teams are out, and the British band who were in attendance on Friday are setting up once again.
To generate an atmosphere, the DJ has dialled the music up a notch, with applause encouraged for not just the ball boys and ball girls, but the mascot as the teams wait to be announced.
Great Britain had a strong home support on Friday and look like they have a similar following at the temporary arena against Canada.
03:51 PM GMT
Bring the noise
Great Britain are one of only four nations to have competed in every Billie Jean King Cup season going back to the inaugural match at Queen’s Club in 1963, but they have yet to win it, despite reaching four finals.
That very first match produced a 3-0 home win and Great Britain have maintained a 100 per cent record against Canada, winning in 1966 and 1984.
Team GB are hoping to keep that record with the help of another boisterous crowd whom Boulter described as “awesome” on Friday. “You always get behind us. In the good moments and the bad moments you’ve been with us on this journey.”
03:35 PM GMT
No US Open final rematch
Emma Raducnau and Leylah Fernandez found themselves on opposing sides three years on from their memorable contest in the 2021 US Open final, although the Billie Jean King Cup rules dictated there would not be a rematch between the pair.
Instead, Fernandez as Canada’s highest-ranked singles player in the competition will play Great Britain’s highest, Katie Boulter.
Raducanu, the World No 58, opens the tie with a match against Rebecca Marino, who was preferred in the singles to similarly-ranked Marina Stakusic as the No 2.
Should the two singles matches end with one win for each side, the Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson double-act will be called into action against Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski.
03:31 PM GMT
Can Team GB reach the semis?
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, where Great Britain are set to take on Canada.
Great Britain made light work of Germany in the last round on Friday with Emma Raducanu making a triumphant return from injury with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jule Niemeier, and Katie Boulter also winning in straight sets against Laura Siegemund.
Boulter had high praise for Raducanu, the recently turned 22-year-old, who was playing in her first competitive match since damaging injury ligaments in her foot two months ago.
“She did incredibly well,” she said. “She hasn’t played that many matches, so to see that level out there again, just doing really well, it’s really nice to see.”
Boulter, the world No 25, didn’t fare too badly herself, blowing Siegemund off the court in 1hr10min with a devastating display of powerful groundstrokes for the loss of only three games.
That dominant victory precluded the need for a subsequent doubles match but Team GB are not expecting to have things so easy against Canada, who are the defending champions.
Raducanu is up first and faces Rebecca Marino, who is ranked No 103 in the world, while, as the top seed of the British pair Boulter will take on world No 31 Leylah Fernandez, whom Raducanu, playing as a qualifier, defeated in the US Open final in 2021. Was it really three years ago already?
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