Billie Jean King Cup 2024: Emma Raducanu efforts in vain as Great Britain miss out on final with Slovakia defeat
Published 19/11/2024 at 18:17 GMT
React to this story
Emma Raducanu extended her perfect record in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup, but her efforts were not enough for Great Britain as they crashed out with a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia. Raducanu got Britain off to the perfect start, rattling past Viktoria Hruncakova in straight sets. But Katie Boulter could not follow up, while Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson were soundly beaten in the decisive doubles.
Sinner 'very confident' ahead of doping case verdict after 'sleepless nights'
Video credit: SNTV
Great Britain were denied their first Billie Jean King Cup final since 1981 after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia, despite Emma Raducanu continuing her singles success.
Raducanu extended her perfect record at the finals as she breezed through her singles match to establish a 1-0 lead, but Katie Boulter's defeat levelled the clash - the British No. 1 losing despite going a set up.
Raducanu beat Viktoria Hruncakova 6-4 6-2, before the tie was levelled as Boulter slumped to a 2-6 6-4 6-4 defeat against Rebecca Sramkova.
The British No. 1's defeat meant that Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls were tasked with keeping Great Britain alive in the competition, but were emphatically beaten in straight sets by Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova as Slovakia set up a final with Jasmine Paolini's Italy.
The final willl be Slovakia's second, and their first since triumphing in 2002. They face a tough test against Italy, who are bidding for their fifth title.
"I think we all feel absolutely amazing," Hruncakova said after the match. "The atmosphere was amazing and we played the best doubles of our lives. Just so happy to be in the finals."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/11/18/4063283-82403308-2560-1440.jpg)
Nadal trains with Alcaraz as he steps up preparations for final appearance
Video credit: SNTV
She added: "I played good but my opponent today [Raducanu] was playing absolutely amazing.
"I did not feel bad after the match actually, and I was very hopeful that Rebecca can make a point for us, and we can play a deciding doubles. And that happened.
"The way I played, the way I returned today in the doubles, I was very pleased with that."
Slovakia team captain, Matej Liptak, said it was a career-long "dream" to lead his team to the final.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," he said. "This is a dream, I have no words for this. I'm a captain for many years already. This was my dream to play this final.
"I was once very close to this moment, but today is real. Unbelievable feeling for the country."
RAMPANT RADUCANU PUT GB IN DRIVING SEAT
Raducanu made a confident start against world No. 238 Hruncakova, grabbing an immediate break and then fending off several break points to clinch a 10-minute hold.
Hruncakova chalked up her first game to cut the deficit, but could not stop a rampant Raducanu from posting 12 consecutive points - twice holding to love while also breaking without reply - to establish a 5-1 lead.
Hruncakova got one break back but Raducanu closed out the set with her third set point, continuing a dominant string of performances in which the British No. 2 has yet to concede a set in Spain.
Hruncakova showed more fight at the start of the second set - holding twice while failing to break Raducanu's resistance - but was broken after successive errors.
A battling hold followed by another break of serve put Raducanu a game away from victory at 5-2.
She could not serve it out at the first attempt as Hruncakova won her first break for a sliver of hope, but Raducanu made no mistake at the second time of asking.
Raducanu's celebrations were followed by a long hug with team captain Anne Keothavong.
BOULTER BEATEN TO SET UP DECIDER
Like Raducanu, Boulter made a fast start as her precise groundstokes proved too good for Slovakian No. 1 Sramkova.
Boulter broke in the opening game of the match and was soon in control of the set at 3-1.
After Sramkova held to cut Boulter's lead back to one, the Brit reeled off three games in a row to clinch the set.
- Raducanu in 'good spot' ahead of 2025 season
- Federer hails Nadal's 'epic career' in emotional message
However, Sramkova halted the British momentum and hit back with a break early in the second set to move 2-0 up.
As Raducanu returned to courtside, Boulter got the break back immediately, only to hand over another with a double fault as Sramkova moved 3-1 up.
Boulter fought back to 4-4, but then came under pressure as Sramkova held to love and fashioned two set points on Boulter's serve. The Slovakian took the second with a forehand winner to level the contest.
A resurgent Sramkova carried that confidence into the third set and took the first break to go 3-1 ahead.
Boulter broke straight back, before a brilliant battle between the pair played out - each valiantly hunting for an advantage in the tie - with both hitting sensational winners, alongside costly unforced errors.
And it was Sramkova who held her nerve to bring Slovakia level in the tie as she converted her second match point to win on Boulter's serve.
WATSON, NICHOLLS FALL IN STRAIGHT SETS
The British pair of Nicholls and Watson were tasked with sending GB through to the final, but suffered a difficult start against Hruncakova and Mihalikova - falling two breaks behind as Raducanu and Boulter nervously watched on.
The GB pairing finally got themselves on the board at 4-1, Watson's serve proving tough to deal with as she sent Hruncakova out wide to register a consolation game.
The Brits could not immediately capitalise, with Slovakia going one away from taking the opening set with another accomplished hold.
Watson and Nicholls seemed to gain some confidence, holding again for 5-2.
Britain, however, were ultimately made to pay the price for their poor start, falling a set behind after coming within a point of a potentially crucial break.
The second set looked likely to be a sterner contest as Watson and Nicholls secured an immediate hold despite being taken all the way to deuce.
But the Slovakian dominance soon began again. They emphatically broke to love and forged ahead at 2-1.
Britain looked to be en-route for an immediate break back, but surrendered two break points as their opponents' explosive groundstrokes consistently forced errors. The GB pair did, however, manage to avoid falling further behind with a subsequent hold to love.
However, it was to be the end of the road for Great Britain in the competition, as the Slovakian pair rattled home three straight games - including an integral break - to down the Brits and spark jubilant yet emotional celebrations.
"I cried like a baby," Mihalikova said. "Now I'm very calm, I will cry tomorrow after the match.
"Hopefully we just need one more win and we can touch the trophy, cry and go home."
- - -
Stream top tennis action, including the 2025 Australian Open, live and on-demand on discovery+
Stream top tennis action, including the 2025 Australian Open, live and on-demand on discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement