Emma Raducanu is now 2-of-2 at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals after ousting Rebecca Marino 6-0 7-5 to help Great Britain beat defending champions Canada and progress into the semifinal.
On Sunday, the 2021 US Open champion was first on the court for the British team and she got off to an outstanding start after bageling the world No. 103 in the first set.
After absolutely dominating the first scene, the former world No. 10 faced much bigger pressure in the second set. But Raducanu managed to save three break points in the fourth game before saving four more in the eighth game. Failing to realize a total seven break points came back to haunt Marino, who got broken in the 11th game as the British tennis star went 6-5 up before serving out for the match in the following game.
Emma Raducanu© LTA/Instagram – Fair Use
Previously, Raducanu overcame Jule Niemeier in Britain’s round-of-16 victory against Germany.
What Raducanu said after beating Marino?
“In the second set Rebecca really upped her level, she started swinging on every single ball. I’m very pleased with how I managed to fend off the break points and sneak that break at 5-5 then close it out,” the 22-year-old said after the match.
After the current world No. 58, top-ranked British female tennis player Katie Boulter defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-4 to seal her nation’s win over Canada.
Following her big win over the 2021 US Open runner-up, the world No. 24 gave credit to the 22-year-old for making it easier for her to go out and perform well.
“I just want to say, firstly, Emma makes it very easy to come out here and have a swing at 1-0 up, so full credit to her for starting us off well. Really proud of my performance today. I just wanted to come out here and really go at the defending champs, and hopefully get a big win,” Boulter said.
For a place in the final of the BJK Cup Finals, Raducanu and Co. will play against Slovakia.