Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter sent Great Britain past defending champions Canada and into the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup with straight-sets wins in Malaga.
Raducanu beat Rebecca Marino 6-0 7-5 in the opening rubber, winning 100 per cent of points on her first serve in a one-sided first set and also slamming eight forehand winners.
The 22-year-old then showed her battling qualities in a second set that lasted over an hour, fending off the seven break points a much-improved Marino carved out before breaking in the 11th game.
Later on, Boulter saw off Leylah Fernandez – the player Raducanu had beaten to win the 2021 US Open in New York – by a 6-2 6-4 score to clinch a last-four meeting with Slovakia on Tuesday.
Boulter failed to convert a match point on the Fernandez serve and then squandered two in her own service game as she double-faulted and then netted, but eventually came through at the fourth attempt.
Boulter said: “I’m really happy with my level today. Emma makes it very easy to come out at 1-0 so full credit to her for starting us off so well. I’m really proud of my performance today.
“I feel like we’ve been building for some time now and it’s finally paying off. We’ve got a great team.”
Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson were not required once again, with the doubles pair also missing out on action on Friday as Raducanu and Boulter won their singles contests against Germany.
It is the second time in three years that Britain have made the semi-finals but this feels much more significant than 2022, when they were given a wild card as hosts in Glasgow and won only one tie during the year.
Raducanu’s record in the competition is now a very impressive five wins and only one defeat, including four victories from as many matches this year.
This was a contest of two halves, with the 22-year-old racing through the first set in less than half an hour against an opponent who was nervous and playing her first match on the court after Canada received a bye through to the last eight.
Marino, ranked 103 but in form after winning a title earlier this month, began to land her big serve and forehand in the second set and Raducanu had to show her battling qualities, saving seven break points across two games.
Her remodelled serve, which yielded 10 aces on Friday, again stood up well, and Raducanu clinched her only break point of the set at 5-5 before serving it out.
She was proud of her efforts, saying: “I think it’s always difficult actually when you win a set so comfortably because you almost think in your head, ‘OK, something might go wrong here, there is no way I’m going to cruise through the entire match’.
“So I was expecting it. Especially with a player like Rebecca, who is a big server, big ball-striker. Fair play to her in the second set.
“So I knew how important my own service games were and I’m really proud of how I fended off those seven break points in the second set, and managed to sneak a break at 5-5.”
Whatever happens during the rest of the tournament, her performances here will send Raducanu into the off-season full of belief that she can push back towards the top of the game in 2025.
“I know I’m a dangerous player,” she said. “I know no one wants to pull my name in the draw. I take pride in that and I’m looking forward to hopefully staying on court longer next year.”
Can Britain beat Slovakia on Tuesday?
Anne Keothavong’s team will certainly not underestimate Slovakia, who upset the USA in the last 16 and were comfortable 2-0 winners over Australia earlier on Sunday.
Rebecca Sramkova cruised to a 6-1 6-2 win over Ajla Tomljanovic to clinch Slovakia the victory after Viktoria Hruncakova rallied to defeat Kimberly Birrell 7-5 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 for her sixth straight BJK Cup win, counting singles and doubles.
A first final appearance since 1981, when the competition was known as the Fed Cup, is well within Britain’s grasp, and a first title might not be beyond them either.
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