Great Britain looking to show strength in depth in BJK Cup

Five months on from the heartbreak of Malaga, where they came so close to battling for the Billie Jean King Cup trophy before succumbing to Slovakia in a brutal semi-final, Great Britain will begin their pursuit of their sport's flagship team competition as they face Germany today and the Netherlands tomorrow in The Hague for a spot in the finals.

- Tumaini Carayol

They will attempt to do so without Emma Raducanu, a key figure in the team's recent success. Last year, she led them to the finals in Malaga with two high-quality victories against France on clay. She ended 2024 with five wins and no defeats in the competition.

Raducanu's absence is even more significant considering recent events. Two weeks ago, the 22-year-old made her first real breakthrough on the WTA tour since her US Open title run by reaching the quarter-finals of the Miami Open. Her team cited the need to prioritise her fitness as the main reasoning behind her decision to withdraw. The GB captain, Anne Keothavong, said yesterday that she was empathetic of the decision.

"Naturally disappointed," she said. "But I understand where she's coming from. She gave a lot to this team last year and was a huge part of the reason why we achieved the success that we did. I've got five players here who are highly motivated, who are excited to be here and are well prepped. I really hope Emma will be part of this again in the future."