“I’m proud that we’re in the Finals again” – Emma Raducanu ‘excited’ to return to action at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals
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Emma Raducanu has touched down in Malaga ahead of this year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals and is relishing the opportunity to represent her country at the biggest women’s team tennis tournament.
Raducanu stole the spotlight last time out at the Brits’ Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tie against France. The qualifiers marked the 22-year-old’s first tie for the Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team in two years but despite having a chunk of time away from team competitions, she rose to the challenge – producing two of the best performances this season.
Raducanu kick-started the campaign with a spectacular 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over former world No.4 Caroline Garcia before producing another comeback victory over Diane Parry to book her country’s spot in the Malaga.
Now gearing up to make her Finals debut, Raducanu has reunited with the rest of the team and is hoping she can pick up where she left off on the Billie Jean King Cup stage.
“I look back on that week and I think it was an extremely positive one”, Raducanu said, reflecting on her victories against France in the qualifiers.
“I think it set me off on an amazing stead for those next few months. I was playing really good tennis. I think getting two top-level wins against highly ranked players gave me a lot of confidence and I took that on to Stuttgart.
“I’m very proud of all of our performances that week – Boults as well turning it around after losing on the first day. I’m proud that we’re in the Finals again but on merit – we won and qualified off our own backs, and I think it’s going to be an exciting week ahead.”
Looking back, her campaign back in April really ignited Raducanu’s momentum and spurred her on to a sensational run on the WTA tour across the summer months.
Fuelled with confidence, the world No.58 went on to reach the semi-finals of the Rothesay Open Nottingham and the quarter-finals of the Rothesay International Eastbourne before setting sail on a journey to the fourth round at Wimbledon – her best Grand Slam run since her historic 2021 victory at Flushing Meadows.
The British No.2 will now be gunning to re-find that form ahead of Great Britain’s opening match of the Finals against Germany on Friday 15 November.
“Every team is very strong here. We don’t know who we’re going to be playing, and I think we need to be prepared for everything because they have players with very different game styles and that’s difficult to prepare for.
“You don’t know if you’re going to be playing someone who’s fast, slow or plays with slice, so I think it’s going to be tricky – as is every team. I think we have a really strong team ourselves to take them on, give it our all and hopefully fight through.”
“It would mean a lot (to do well in the Finals). It’s the end of the season and I know the girls have had a long season. Boults had a great run in Asia and I’m sure she’s feeling very confident. Even though mine finished a bit earlier in Seoul, I would love to do well in this tournament playing for my country.
“I think I did well in France, and it brought the best out of me, so I’m going to try and do the same here.”
Should she be selected to play this week in Malaga, it will mark Raducanu’s first competitive match since her quarter-final appearance at the Seoul Korea Open in September, where she was forced to withdraw after spraining ligaments in her foot.
Since then, the Bromley-born star has been recovering and training well and is ready to leave everything out on the court in the hopes of leading Great Britain to a maiden Billie Jean King Cup title.
“It's been two months since my last match, which is a long time, and I think everyone knows how different it is between practice and playing matches.
“I’m training well and hitting well so I’m looking forward to – if I’m picked – seeing how that fairs up in a match. Regardless I’m very proud of the work I’ve done to get back into this situation after not playing for a while.
“Seoul was a setback but to be here and in a place that I can say I’m ready to give it a go on the match court is really positive for me.
“I’m working in a really good way, professional, clean and tidy set up and I’m looking forward to getting a proper pre-season this year and taking on 2025. Hopefully, I can be consistent in the work and stay on court a bit more.”
The Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team take on Germany in their first round match of the Finals on Friday 15 November at 16:00 UK time.
You can watch every tie from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on the Tennis Channel.
All of Great Britain’s ties will also be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel, as well as BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app and the Red Button.
