Anne Keothavong, the captain of Team GB, expressed her disappointment at not having Emma Raducanu available for the Billie Jean King Cup. However, she remains confident in the talent of the players on her roster.
Initially slated to play in this week’s quarter-final against Japan, Raducanu opted to compete in the Korea Open in Seoul as a wild card instead.
The 2021 US Open champion made a strong start in the Korea Open, defeating Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets. She is set to face the reigning Wimbledon champion, Barbora Krejcikova, in the second round this Thursday morning, which can be viewed live on Sky Sports.
While the absence of their star player is felt, Keothavong is focusing on rallying the remaining team members—Francesca Jones, Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Jodie Burrage—to deliver an exceptional performance. “It’s undoubtedly disappointing,” Keothavong acknowledged, “but my priority is to concentrate on the strengths of the players we have and the challenge ahead.”
She emphasized, “I trust in this team. Their impressive effort back in April was crucial in securing our spot, and I have no doubt they can replicate that success.” Keothavong recognized that players must make decisions in their best interests but reiterated her commitment to the team’s collective goal.
Katie Boulter is part of Team GB for the Billie Jean King Cup
“We take immense pride in this competition, striving to become world champions.” Keothavong noted that Japan will also miss their top player, Naomi Osaka, for the opening match, further emphasizing her belief that Team GB has a shot at advancing beyond previous semi-final finishes.
“We are the second seeds here, having made the semi-finals a couple of times in recent years. I truly believe we have a real chance to win,” she stated, showcasing her optimism.
In other news, it was a disappointing outing for Cameron Norrie, who suffered a surprising defeat at the Chengdu Open, losing 6-7 (3) 6-4 7-6 (2) to 304th-ranked Zhou Yi, who saved a match point in the process.
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