Emma Raducanu gave credit to her team following her win against Viktoria Hruncakova but also expressed optimism that Katie Boulter and Co. would go on to complete the job and seal a final ticket for Great Britain.
After it was revealed that the former world No. 10 would be the first on the court for her nation in their Billie Jean King Cup Finals semifinal tie against Slovakia, the 22-year-old went out and won 6-4 6-4 against Hruncakova to give her nation an early lead.
“It’s amazing to have this support. Today I felt like I needed it and the team is going to need it. I really appreciate so much support from everyone on the GB side. I’m going to get everything done as soon as possible so I can come back here and support, and give everything like I just did on the court on the bench. I wish Katie well, she’s playing amazing and I can’t wait to come out and support her as well,” Raducanu said on the court after ousting Hruncakova.
Emma Raducanu© LTA/Instagram – Fair Use
What happened after Raducanu won the opening rubber?
Since world No. 27 Katie Boulter was next up against 43rd-ranked Rebecca Sramkova, the Brits had all the reasons to think they were in a great position to book a final ticket. And after the top-ranked British female tennis player dominated Sramkova in the first set and won it with a 6-2 scoreline, their triumph appeared to be a safe bet.
But then, the 43rd-ranked Slovak recovered from a set down to upset Boulter 2-6 6-4 6-4 and force a deciding rubber – in which Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova dismantled Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson 6-2 6-2 to send Slovakia into the final versus Italy.
For Raducanu – who went 3-3 in her singles match in Malaga – it was certainly a disappointing ending, considering that she made it clear at the start of the event that she and the rest of the team came for the main glory.