In the highly anticipated Billie Jean King Cup semi-final, Great Britain got off to a promising start with the remarkable performance of Emma Raducanu. However, the subsequent defeat of Katie Boulter forced the doubles decider, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition. Raducanu's early success and Boulter's setback set the stage for a thrilling showdown in the doubles match.

Raducanu's Victory and Boulter's Defeat - A Tale of the Billie Jean King Cup

Raducanu Gets GB Off to Perfect Start

In the opening match of the semi-final tie, Raducanu demonstrated her exceptional skills as she came out firing against Viktoria Hruncakova. She quickly broke the world No 238 player's serve, establishing an early advantage. Raducanu then had to fend off three break points on her own opening service game, showing her tenacity. She managed to open up a 5-1 lead with a second break of her opponent, showcasing her ability to take control of the match.In the first set, the 2021 US Open champion faced a slight stumble when she spurned a set point and was broken back. However, she remained composed and eventually converted her third set point to secure the first set 6-4. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Raducanu earning a double break at 5-2. But she was broken back when serving for the match, adding some tension. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old showed her mental strength and closed things out for a 6-4 6-4 win.After the match, Raducanu shared her thoughts, saying, "Every match is extremely challenging, and I think as the tournament progresses it’s even more so. Today was a really tough battle because my opponent has a huge ball strike and, despite her ranking, she plays much above that. I’m really happy to come through that because I’ve lost to her before [in 2023 in Auckland]."

Boulter Beaten to Force Doubles Decider

Katie Boulter had the opportunity to follow Raducanu's lead and secure a win for Great Britain. She took the opening set comfortably against her opponent who is ranked 19 places below her. But Sramkova, who is almost blind in one eye, had a different story to tell. She had beaten Boulter in their only previous encounter on clay in the spring and had also upset world No 11 Danielle Collins in Slovakia's defeat of USA in the first round.As the match progressed, Boulter's groundstrokes became more erratic, allowing Sramkova to take control. Sramkova opened up a 4-1 lead in the second set, and although Boulter steadied herself and won the next three games, she was broken again at 4-5, forcing a deciding set. The momentum was now with the Slovakian, who took an early lead in the third set. Boulter fought back, but her resistance was finally ended when she was broken again and Sramkova claimed the second of two match points when Boulter missed a backhand.

Doubles Pairing's Crucial Role

Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson have not yet been required during the Finals, as Raducanu and Boulter have won both of their previous singles matches. Now, they face Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova in the doubles match. The winners of this match will secure a spot in the final against Italy. Great Britain is hoping to reach the final of the competition for the fifth time, but it will be a tough challenge.Four-time champions Italy booked a second-successive appearance in the final with a 2-1 victory over Poland on Monday. World No 4 Jasmine Paolini and her team-mate Sara Errani clinched the deciding doubles 7-5 7-5 against Iga Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa after an extraordinary second-set comeback in Malaga. Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek had battled back from a set down to defeat Paolini in their singles tie, after world No 78 Lucia Bronzetti struck first for Italy, defeating Poland’s Magda Linette – ranked 40 places higher – in straight sets.Watch tennis, including the ATP Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia, live on Sky Sports. Stream with NOW.