Emma Raducanu has joint-highest winning percentage for Great Britain in BJK Cup as she puts team on brink of final
Emma Raducanu has put Great Britain on the brink of the Billie Jean King Cup finals after producing yet another clinical display as she gave her team a 1-0 lead in the semi-final against Slovakia.
Following wins over Jule Niemeier from Germany and Rebecca Marino from Canada, Raducanu made it three wins from three matches as she defeated Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova in the first singles rubber of the last four contest.
The 22-year-old is yet to drop a set in the playoffs in Malaga, Spain, as she claimed a 6-4, 6-4 win over world No 159 Hruncakova.
“Every match is extremely challenging and I think as the tournament progresses it becomes more and more challenging,” the British No 2 said.
“I think today was a really tough battle because my opponent is a huge ball striker and despite her ranking she plays well above that, especially on these courts, it really suits her.
“I am really pleased with how I composed myself and served it out in both sets.”
The 2021 US Open winner added: “Both sides of hers come with extreme power. If you give her time to either side she can really hit it, doesn’t matter where.
“The tactic was to try and keep her moving and not just let her get the first strike in and make me run around. I think I did that well with my serving, starting the point. I am really happy to come through as I have lost to her before.”
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Raducanu is now 6-1 in singles at the Billie Jean King Cup for Great Britain as she has won her last five matches. Her only defeat came in her debut match against Marketa Vondrousova in April 2022.
She now has the joint-highest winning percentage in singles for British players in the Billie Jean King Cup/Fed Cup as she drew level with Annabel Croft (also 6-1), as they both are on 85.7%.
But Virginia Wade is way in front in terms of wins as she won 36 of her 56 singles rubbers while current Great Britain Davis Cup captain Anne Keothavong and Heather Watson have 21 wins.
Katie Boulter has 14 victories and she can move to 15 if she beats Rebecca Sramkova in the second singles leg rubber.
A win would also see Great Britain progress to the final of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 1981. They finished runners-up to the United States that year.
Italy await the winners of the Great Britain-Slovakia tie after they defeated Poland 2-1 in the semi-final.
