Slovakia Ends GB’s Billie Jean King Cup Dream

Slovakia ended Great Britain’s hopes of reaching a Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time in 43 years by staging a dramatic comeback in Malaga. Emma Raducanu delivered a strong opening win but Slovakia’s resilience allowed them to clinch victory extending Britain’s title drought in the tournament, last contested by the nation in 1981 when it was called the Federation Cup. Katie Boulter, Britain’s number one acknowledged the disappointment but maintained optimism.

“We’re so, so close. I know we can win this title,” Boulter told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It stings, but I’ll get past it and we’ll learn for the future.” Captain Anne Keothavong highlighted the team’s achievement of reaching the semi-finals, despite entering the competition as the second lowest-ranked side. “I feel so proud of this team. The loss is gutting but reaching the semi-finals is a fantastic achievement,” she said. Raducanu returning after a two-month layoff due to a foot injury, delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament.

She won all three of her matches in Malaga without dropping a set. After her straight-sets victory over Viktoria Hruncakova in the semi-final opener, Raducanu described the bittersweet experience. “It’s a strange feeling to go from the high of my win to seeing the team fall short. But I take positives from my performances,” she said. In the decisive doubles match, Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova defeated Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls 6-2, 6-2 to secure Slovakia’s victory.

Despite the setback, Boulter expressed pride in the team’s effort and Raducanu showed interest in exploring doubles to strengthen future campaigns. Keothavong praised Boulter’s leadership, stating, “She carries so much fire in her belly and leads the team brilliantly.” The team remains determined to end their title drought in future tournaments.