Preview: France v Great Britain
04/04/2024 13:41
Eight Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifiers take place from 12-13 April. The winners will seal a place at November's season-ending Finals in Seville alongside defending champions Canada, 2023 runners-up Italy, hosts Spain and wild card recipients Czechia. Here is a preview of the France v Great Britain tie
By Kevin Palmer
After a thrilling Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier tie between these two nations last April, they have been drawn together once again for a contest that will be played on an indoor clay court at Le Chaudron in Le Portel, France.
The French team led by captain Julien Benneteau are currently No. 6 in the Billie Jean King Cup Rankings, while Great Britain are at No. 15 after they reached the semi-finals of this competition in 2022.
TEAMS NAMED
France: Caroline Garcia, Clara Burel, Diane Parry, Kristina Mladenovic
Great Britain: Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Emma Raducanu
HEAD TO HEAD
These two nations will meet for a fifth time in Billie Jean King Cup, with their most recent clash coming a year ago as France ran out 3-1 winners in a closely contested contest on an indoor hard court.
That was the first meeting between France and Great Britain since 1981, when Virginia Wade and Sue Barker led the Brits to a comfortable victory in a World Group tie played in Tokyo, Japan.
Barker and Wade shone once again as Great Britain beat France 3-0 in a World Group tie in 1976, with France winning the first meeting between these two nations a year earlier.
STORY OF 2023
Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet were pushed all the way in a compelling Qualifiers tie against Great Britain, with their singles wins against Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart paving the way for victory.
France then competed well at the Finals in Seville, with a narrow defeat against Italy in the group stages ending their hopes of a push for the title.
Great Britain bounced back from their defeat against France by winning their Play-Offs tie against Sweden, with Boulter leading the way with two thrilling singles wins.
MEET THE CAPTAINS
Julien Benneteau had a fine record in team competition for France and was part of their Davis Cup-winning team in 2017.
He was also a Grand Slam doubles winner after lifting the 2014 Roland Garros title with partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin and finished his career with an impressive list of high-profile singles victories. He is one of a select band of players to have beaten Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
He was named France's Billie Jean King Cup captain in 2018 and guided the team to victory in the Final against Australia a year later, with his ambition now focused on repeating that triumph.
Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong won 22 matches during her playing career in the Billie Jean King Cup and she has overseen some thrilling ties since taking over as team captain in 2017.
The run to the 2022 semi-finals was a highlight for Keothavong and heading into this re-match with France, she will be encouraged by the form of top-ranked player Katie Boulter, who this year has broken into the Top 30 of the WTA Rankings for the first time in her career.
TALKING POINT
Emma Raducanu's appearance in the Great Britain team will ensure there is plenty of focus on this tie, with the 2021 US Open champion set to make only her second appearance for her country against France.
The 21-year-old's WTA ranking has slipped over the last year as she missed most of 2023 after undergoing surgery on both wrists and her ankle, but Raducanu has served up some encouraging performances since returning to action at the start of this year.
Adding consistency to her promise may depend on her fitness levels and she has been struggling once again in recent weeks and was forced to pull out of last month's Miami Open due to a back problem. Keothavong, however, is confident she can play a full part in a strong team heading to France.
"The French side will present a significant challenge as always, but we all know how representing GB inspires us and each year we are getting stronger and better as a team," said Keothavong.
