Great Britain battled past the Netherlands in a doubles decider to secure a place in the Billie Jean King Cup finals.
After Sonay Kartal had seen off Eva Vedder in the opening singles, British number one Katie Boulter was then beaten in straight sets by Suzan Lamens to send the tie into a deciding doubles match in The Hague.
With Boulter brought back alongside Jodie Burrage by captain Anne Keothavong in a change to her original pairing, Great Britain dominating against Lamens and Demi Schuurs to take a spot in the eight-team finals during September.
RETURNING TO THE @BJKCup FINALS 🔥🔥🔥
— LTA (@the_LTA) April 12, 2025
The Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup Team book their spot in Shenzhen in September, beating the Netherlands 2-1!!!#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/z6DVmLjL3A
Britain’s victory was all the more impressive having played without Emma Raducanu, who chose to withdraw to focus on her training ahead of the clay-court swing.
Kartal – who made her national-team debut in Friday’s win over Germany – had earlier dug in with a strong display in the deciding set to come through 6-4 4-6 6-1 against Vedder in the opening singles.
After recovering from 2-0 down to secure the first set, Kartel then saw Vedder, ranked 265 in the world, respond with a gutsy display to edge the second after a late break to draw level.
Super Sonay is delivering for Great Britain 🇬🇧
— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) April 12, 2025
They take a 1-0 lead in their tie with the Netherlands as she defeats Eva Vedder!#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/cREKyhZ5lN
British number three Kartal, though, reasserted herself in the decider, making the most of a strong forehand to twice break Vedder in games four and six before sealing victory with a drop shot at the net.
“I am super proud of that performance,” Kartal, the world number 60 said, in her courtside interview.
“Physically at the end, I was struggling. The crowd and girls on the bench helped me get through. That one means a lot.”
British number one Boulter, though, could not close out the tie in the second singles as world number 70 Lamens fought her way to a 6-4 6-3 win.
Sonay 👊#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/fKhbPidq1s
— LTA (@the_LTA) April 12, 2025
Boulter had produced a rousing comeback against Tatjana Maria to seal victory in the tie against Germany.
Lamens, however, made the most of Boulter’s unforced errors to break twice in the first set for a 4-1 lead.
Although Boulter recovered with a break and then hold at 4-5, Lamens closed things out on her next service game to love.
Boulter then looked to have regrouped, breaking for a 3-1 lead in the second set, only to fail to hold again.
Suzan Lamens brengt Nederland weer op gelijke hoogte met Groot-Brittannië! 🔥Ze boekt een knappe overwinning op Katie Boulter: 6-4 6-3. De dubbel moet nu de beslissing brengen!#BJKCup #TeamNL pic.twitter.com/bZiPXlZJfH
— KNLTB (@KNLTB) April 12, 2025
Lamens – seeking a 13th straight match win Billie Jean King Cup – kept the pressure on at 5-3 and another break of Boulter’s faltering serve secured victory for the Netherlands and sent the tie into a deciding doubles match.
Doubles specialist Olivia Nicholls and Harriet Dart had been scheduled to play, but with the result in the balance, Great Britain captain Keothavong opted to switch in Boulter and Burrage.
Up a set in the deciding doubles 🙌@katiecboulter & @jodieburrage take the opener 6-2 #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/KbB9kq4HVO
— LTA (@the_LTA) April 12, 2025
It looked to have been an inspired decision as the British pair saved four break points in the second game to hold and then broke themselves to love and lead 2-1.
Another break on Schuurs’ service game saw that extended to 5-2, with the first set soon wrapped up.
The Dutch duo went off court during the changeover, looking to find some inspiration to lift the subdued home crowd.
Boulter and Burrage, though, remained on the offensive, securing two early breaks in the second set before closing out a memorable victory.
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