Emma Raducanu made a triumphant return to action to put Great Britain within touching distance of the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old looked sharp on her comeback from her latest injury setback as she saw off the challenge of Germany’s Jule Niemeier and gave Britain a 1-0 lead in the tie at Malaga’s Palacios de Deportes.
Raducanu served 10 aces in a 6-4 6-4 win – although there were also seven double faults and six match points – that gives Katie Boulter the chance to clinch the victory and a clash with defending champions Canada on Sunday by beating Laura Siegemund.
What. A. Performance. 🔥@EmmaRaducanu gives us a 1-0 lead vs Germany!!!#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/bkHU4UUOvi
— LTA (@the_LTA) November 15, 2024
“I think I played some really good tennis today,” said Raducanu. “I haven’t played a match in a long time so I think these are small sharpness things that come. I’m very proud of how I managed to regroup and close out in that final game.”
Having been scheduled as the final match of the opening round at the Finals week, Britain then had to wait another hour and 25 minutes longer than planned as Poland completed victory over Spain.
That tie had been due to be played on Wednesday but was postponed because of the storm that hit Malaga earlier this week, causing flooding around the 3,564-seat temporary arena where the women’s tournament is being held.
A near four-hour match between Magda Linette and Sara Sorribes Tormo was followed by a three-set battle between Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa, which the world number two won to send Poland through to a quarter-final against the Czech Republic.
Seville had been the intended host of the event but it was moved in July at the request of local authorities to join next week’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, although it inevitably has the feeling of the poor relation given that is being staged in a permanent, much larger stadium next door.
Emma Raducanu doubles her advantage with another break over Niemeier 😯#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/DPAz1Eph20
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) November 15, 2024
Raducanu’s name elicited the biggest cheer from the heavily British crowd when the teams finally walked onto court, with the former US Open champion bidding to build on her heroics in the qualifiers in April, when she won both her matches away against France on clay to seal an upset victory.
But her preparation was limited by a foot injury sustained in September, and this was her first competitive outing for nearly two months.
She had the advantage on ranking over Niemeier, a powerful 25-year-old who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals two years ago, sitting at 58 compared to her opponent’s 92.
And it was Raducanu who made the first move, a fiercely struck forehand return earning her a break at 3-3.
Emma Raducanu with a rocket return to break! 🚀#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/KxkEJCunW3
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) November 15, 2024
The Briton then saved five break points in the next game to hold onto her lead, helped by four of the seven aces she served in the opening set.
Raducanu confidently served it out and then broke again to start the second, this time drilling a backhand return into the corner.
Raducanu was unable to prevent Niemeier retrieving the break but she went straight back on the offensive and opened up a 5-2 lead.
Finishing off matches has at times been a problem for Raducanu and she double-faulted on match point, with Niemeier going on to break, before seeing three more chances go begging on the German’s serve.
But at the sixth time of asking Raducanu did finally make it across the line, bouncing up and down and pumping her fist to her team-mates.
