Great Britain’s hopes of winning the Billie Jean King Cup remain unfulfilled as Slovakia mounted a remarkable comeback to reach the final. The British team began with a strong showing when Emma Raducanu, ranked second among British women, defeated Viktoria Hruncakova 6-4, 6-4 at the start of Tuesday’s semi-final clash.
However, Britain’s leading singles player, Katie Boulter, fell short of sealing the victory, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Slovakia’s top player Rebecca Sramkova. This defeat shifted British hopes of reaching their first final since 1981—when the event was known as the Federation Cup—onto a decisive doubles match.
In the crucial doubles encounter, Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls, making their first appearance this week, lost 6-2, 6-2 to Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova. With this win, Slovakia secured their place in the final, where they will face 2023 runners-up Italy, led by world number four Jasmine Paolini.
Britain has never captured the women’s team trophy, which is part of the World Cup of Tennis. Anne Keothavong’s squad, which also included Harriet Dart, aimed to become the fifth British team to reach the final in the 61-year history of the competition.
Boulter Struggles to Cross the Finish Line for Great Britain
Despite being the second-lowest-ranked team at the 12-nation finals in Malaga, Britain entered with hopes of clinching their first trophy. Team captain Anne Keothavong emphasized her squad’s potential from the start, counting on the formidable duo of 2021 US Open champion Raducanu and top-25 player Boulter.
In April’s qualifying match against France—a challenging away tie on clay—Raducanu secured two wins, while Boulter added another victory to propel the team to the finals. In Malaga, Raducanu maintained her winning form, providing Boulter with opportunities to close out matches.
On an indoor hard court that suited her strengths, Boulter used her powerful serve and forehand to defeat Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. But against Sramkova, ranked 48th in the world, Boulter’s level dipped. She clawed back after falling behind but missed a crucial volley at 30-30 in the ninth game, allowing Sramkova to maintain her unbeaten streak in the finals.
Watson and Nicholls Face Tough Doubles Challenge
Watson and Nicholls, watching previous matches from the bench, entered the deciding doubles match but were quickly put under pressure by Hruncakova and Mihalikova. Falling behind 4-0 early, the British pair could not recover despite showing signs of improvement in the second set. Slovakia, having already eliminated 18-time winners USA earlier in the competition, secured a decisive win and progressed to their first final since 2002.
The outcome leaves questions about Great Britain’s future in the Billie Jean King Cup, with Raducanu, at 22, seen as a key player for years to come. Her performance this week, despite a recent foot injury, demonstrated her value to the team. Straight-set wins over Germany’s Jule Niemeier and Canada’s Rebecca Marino showed her resilience. In her match against Hruncakova, Raducanu overcame lapses in rhythm to close out both sets, expressing satisfaction with her performance and bonding with her teammates.
“Every match presents challenges that escalate as the tournament goes on,” Raducanu said. “My opponent today had a powerful game, playing beyond her ranking, but I’m pleased with my composure and ability to serve out the sets.”
