Emma Raducanu's GB team-mate speaks out on Brit skipping key event
Emma Raducanu has opted against competing for her country.
Emma Raducanu receives MBE from King Charles in 2022
Emma Raducanu’s Great Britain team-mate Katie Boulter has explained how the team will fare without the Brit at the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup, after the 20-year-old pulled out of the event. It is the third time in a row that Raducanu has skipped national team duties though she will be competing at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart the following week.
The British team for the BJK Cup tie against France in Coventry will consist of Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Boulter, plus the doubles team of Olivia Nicholls and Alicia Barnett. Captain Anne Keothavong has named the same squad that reached the semi-finals last year in Glasgow.
Raducanu missed the previous event through a wrist injury, though her team-mate Boulter believes it is an opportunity for the remaining members of the team to showcase their abilities without the British No 1. "Of course we're going to miss Emma. But we're excited to have the same team as Glasgow," Boulter told BBC Sport.
"There was an incredible atmosphere among the team and with the support we were given, and we're all working hard to try and cause a little upset against France.
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"Each and every one of us is very unique and proved ourselves in many different ways over the years. We have all shown we can play some very good tennis - Emma included, of course - but it is another opportunity for all of us to go out there and show what we can do."
Raducanu admitted that she was unaware of when the BJK Cup tie was taking place when asked about her participation during the Indian Wells Masters, which prompted a frosty response from skipper Keothavong as the dates for the event had been established last year.
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“I don't even know when it is, to be honest,” Raducanu said last month regarding the qualifier against France. “I haven't thought about it. I've just been so in my zone as I've said. I'll decide [on my participation] later.”
Keothavong - who has been the captain of Britain’s BJK Cup squad since 2017 - responded on Twitter, replying to one post of Raducanu’s quotes with a thinking emoji. She then shared a separate tweet, writing: “My communication skills are generally good in case anyone was wondering.”
Raducanu’s only BJK Cup involvement came at the qualifier stage last year, where she joined up with the team for their 3-2 defeat to Czech Republic. However, Team GB qualified for the tournament as hosts, but Raducanu was absent owing to a wrist injury.
The winners of this year’s tie, which will be played on Friday and Saturday and consists of four singles and one doubles match, will qualify for November's 12-team BJK Cup Finals.
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