Emma Raducanu put Great Britain 1-0 up in Billie Jean King Cup quarter-final against defending champions Canada before Katie Boulter clinched win; GB will face Slovakia in last four on Tuesday; Raducanu beats Rebecca Marino 6-0 7-5 in Malaga, fending off seven break points in second set
Sunday 17 November 2024 20:03, UK
Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter sent Great Britain past defending champions Canada and into the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup with straight-sets wins in Malaga.
Raducanu beat Rebecca Marino 6-0 7-5 in the opening rubber, winning 100 per cent of points on her first serve in a one-sided first set and also slamming eight forehand winners.
The 22-year-old then showed her battling qualities in a second set that lasted over an hour, fending off the seven break points a much-improved Marino carved out before breaking in the 11th game.
Later on, Boulter saw off Leylah Fernandez - the player Raducanu had beaten to win the 2021 US Open in New York - by a 6-2 6-4 score to clinch a last-four meeting with Slovakia on Tuesday.
Boulter failed to convert a match point on the Fernandez serve and then squandered two in her own service game as she double-faulted and then netted but eventually came through at the fourth attempt.
Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson were not required once again, with the doubles pair also missing out on action on Friday as Raducanu and Boulter won their singles contests against Germany.
Raducanu's 6-4 6-4 victory over Jule Niemeier two days ago marked her return to the court for the first time since damaging foot ligaments at September's Korea Open.
After beating Marino on Sunday, she said: "It was an incredibly difficult match because the dynamics were so different in each of the sets. In the second set, Rebecca really upped her level.
"I'm very pleased with how I managed to fend off my own break points, sneak that break and close it out.
"When you're playing a big-serving opponent like Rebecca, you know there is so much emphasis on each serve.
"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."
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