France v Great Britain: “Underdogs” on mission to avenge 2023 Qualifiers defeat
11/04/2024 16:54
Great Britain are keen to reverse last year’s Qualifying result and will be looking to heap pressure on the 2019 Billie Jean King Cup champions
By Ross McLean
Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu will spearhead Great Britain’s charge towards the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals after being selected to play singles in their nation’s Qualifier with France.
World No.28 Boulter will get proceedings underway in the opening singles match against France’s Diane Parry, before a resurgent Raducanu faces Caroline Garcia.
The tie at Le Chaudron in Le Portel is being played on clay, which is by no means Boulter or Raducanu’s favourite surface. Boulter has not played a professional match on clay, while Raducanu has often shied away from the surface to prevent injury.
However, Paris 2024 is on the horizon with the red stuff of Roland-Garros playing host to the Olympic Tennis Event from 27 July – 4 August. Boulter, in particular, is well placed to qualify.
While Billie Jean King Cup is the priority this week, as much exposure as possible to clay is no bad thing with an Olympic Games a matter of weeks away.
“The Olympics is always something I wanted to play as a kid and, for me, that is certainly a priority,” said Boulter. “I will be playing if I can, and I am looking forward to being a part of something which isn’t only tennis. I’m sure it would be an experience I won’t forget.”
Thoughts, however, quickly returned to the task at hand – not least Great Britain avenging defeat to France in last year's Qualifiers (pictured).
“As my record shows, I have not played that much on clay, but it is something exciting and fresh for me – I have nothing to lose here," added Boulter.
"I feel like it is something I can get better at, but it’s a free swing and I am really looking forward to this weekend as the underdog.”
The underdog tag is something Raducanu and Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong were keen to hammer home, suggesting the pressure is very much on France, who are bidding to reach the Finals for the third time.
“I have not spent so much time on clay in the past few years,” said Raducanu. “In the beginning it was interesting, but I learned pretty quickly and I am starting to feel a lot better on the surface. In the future I think it will be a surface which really suits me.
“I am maybe a little way from that now, but I am enjoying the challenge and I think it’s great we can be in this position playing the French, who are so dominant. We’re the underdogs but we have a lot of game.”
Keothavong was more stark. “Absolutely, we’re the underdogs. The French have the home support, have experience in their team and have had a lot of success in this competition.
“We also played the French team 12 months ago and we know the result of that [France won 3-0 in singles], but I am confident and I back my players. It is a great opportunity for us and I am looking forward to it. The pressure is all on France.”
Keothavong is not wrong when she talks about France’s strength. Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic have winning history in this competition having triumphed with France in 2019, while Parry and Clara Burel are significant talents.
Garcia remains a Billie Jean King Cup powerhouse and has won 12 of the last 15 matches she has played in the competition. All eyes will now be now on her showdown with Raducanu.
“We’re feeling good, we’ve had good preparation,” said Garcia. “Emma Raducanu is a good player, and she’s proved in the past that she’s got a lot of potential. It’s a great match to play, with a lot of intensity. It’s up to the player who imposes her game.”
On day two of this encounter, Garcia is slated to play Boulter before Parry takes on Raducanu, all of which precedes the doubles, with Garcia and Mladenovic set to play Harriet Dart and Heather Watson.
The winners of the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers will all book their place in November’s Finals; the losers will contest the Play-offs in the same month.
France v Great Britain
