[ad_1]
Emma Raducanu has been named in Great Britain’s squad to face France in the qualifying round of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup.
Raducanu joins British No 1 Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart and Heather Watson in what captain Anne Keothavong says is a “full-strength team”.
France will host the tie from April 12-13 after they beat Keothavong’s team in Coventry last year.
Keothavong insisted GB were “getting stronger and better”.
She told the LTA website: “I’m delighted to be travelling with a full-strength team off the back of some terrific results recently.
“The French side will present a significant challenge as always, but we all know how representing GB inspires us.”
GB secured their place in this year’s qualifiers with a 3-1 play-off win over Sweden in November.
The winner of the best-of-five tie will progress to the Billie Jean King Cup finals later this year, while the losing nation will compete in the play-offs.
Boulter, 27, won her first WTA 500 title earlier this month after coming from a set down to beat Marta Kostyuk in the San Diego Open final.
Meanwhile, Raducanu is continuing her comeback after an injury-hit 2023 season – her latest match ended in a straight-sets defeat in the third round at Indian Wells on Tuesday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch highlights of the match between Raducanu and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells
What’s next for Raducanu?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Raducanu revealed it has been ‘humbling’ to be losing matches ahead of playing at Indian Wells in March
The 21-year-old has been awarded a wild card into the Miami Open which takes place at the iconic Hard Rock Stadium next week.
Miami features a 96-player singles field with the top 32 seeds in singles receiving a first-round bye. The main draw begins on Tuesday, March 19 – live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Raducanu is then due to represent Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup after being picked in the latest squad.
The tie will be played on indoor clay in Le Portel, which is the same surface as the following week’s tournament in Stuttgart, where Raducanu is likely to play as it is organised by Porsche, one of her sponsors.
Last year she lost in the first round while in 2022 she made the quarter-final.
Raducanu could stick to clay and play at the Mutua Madrid Open, which is a 1000 tournament at the end of April, before moving on to the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome in May, and then the start of the French Open on Sunday, May 26.
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!
You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel! Find out more here…
How to watch play on Sky Sports Tennis
The stars of tennis will appear on the new Sky Sports Tennis channel every day
Sky Sports has confirmed a new home for tennis in the UK and Ireland, with Sky Sports Tennis on Sky and NOW, making tennis content available all day, every day for fans.
Sky Sports will broadcast more live tennis than anywhere else, bringing over 4,000 matches from more than 80 tournaments a year on the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as full coverage of the US Open, all exclusively live.
Non-Sky subscribers can stream live matches with a NOW Sports Day and Month Membership, via Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports Arena, and Sky Sports Mix channels.
For further access, fans will also be able to follow their favourite players and gain deeper insights from both Tours via Sky Sports News, the Sky Sports app, on SkySports.com and via Sky Sports social channels.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
[ad_2]
Source link
