Emma Raducanu will probably be welcomed again into Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup group “with open arms”, in accordance to Katie Boulter.
The former US Open champion will play simply her second tie for her nation this week in France, two years after making her debut towards the Czech Republic.
Injuries have prevented Raducanu being concerned within the intervening ties, and he or she indicated on the Australian Open that she would prioritise her well being this 12 months when contemplating whether or not to play.
But, with the tie on indoor clay, the identical floor as her subsequent WTA event in Stuttgart subsequent week, Raducanu will be part of Boulter, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and debutant Francesca Jones in Le Portel.
“I’m very pleased,” mentioned Boulter. “We’ve missed her. We love having her back.
“Obviously the No 1 thing is that she’s healthy. I’ve always said it for myself and it’s my biggest wish for her as well is that she can stay as healthy as possible. We’re going to be welcoming her with open arms for sure.”
At 302, Raducanu is the lowest-ranked member of Anne Keothavong’s group, with Boulter at 28 and Dart additionally within the high 100, however it might be a serious shock if she was left on the bench for the tie on Friday and Saturday.
Raducanu received one of her two matches on her debut and confirmed promise in her first marketing campaign on clay, historically the weakest floor for British gamers, two years in the past.
Keothavong’s facet are undoubtedly underdogs, notably having misplaced to France on the similar stage final 12 months on onerous courts in Coventry. The dwelling facet are led by world No23 Caroline Garcia, who just lately defeated Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka on her method to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, and Boulter mentioned: “It’s a brutal match-up.”
Raducanu’s presence represents a lift for Britain in contrast to final 12 months, as does the speedy rise of Boulter, who at 27 has surged into the highest 30 for the primary time.
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The Leicestershire participant lifted her second, and largest, WTA Tour title on the San Diego Open final month and has received extra matches towards top-50 opponents within the first three months of 2024 than in the remaining of her profession mixed.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind,” mentioned Boulter. “In some aspects I’m surprised, in other aspects I’m not surprised at all, which shows that I’ve really put a lot of work in and I feel like I’m going in the right direction.”
The winners of the tie will qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville in November.
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