British No. 1 Emma Raducanu is not going to characteristic in Staff GB’s Billie Jean King Cup qualfier tie.
Emma Raducanu is not going to be a part of Britain’s BJK Cup squad for subsequent month’s qualifier tie (Picture: Getty)
The British Billie Jean King Cup squad will probably be left with out three of the 4 highest-ranked British ladies for his or her qualifier tie in opposition to Australia subsequent month. British No. 1 Emma Raducanu is noticeably absent from the squad, as are Katie Boulter and Francesca Jones. As a substitute, British No. 2 Sonay Kartal will lead the workforce, which additionally consists of Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage, and Mika Stojsavljevic. A fifth participant may be introduced nearer to the time.
Asserting her four-woman line-up, workforce captain Anne Keothavong mentioned: “Taking part in away from residence in opposition to a robust nation like Australia goes to be robust, however we all the time embrace these weeks collectively as a workforce and will probably be up for the problem in Melbourne.
“We have got gamers with nice expertise on this competitors in our workforce and it is an thrilling alternative for Mika to hitch the senior workforce for the primary time. It is an iconic sporting venue and we would actually love for all of the Brits in Melbourne to return alongside and cheer us on in April.”
Raducanu’s absence comes as no shock, because the world No. 24 had already signed up for the WTA 500 occasion in Linz, staged similtaneously Britain’s tie in opposition to Australia. It’s a tricky schedule for the British gamers – Staff GB should fly to Melbourne to face the Aussies on a tough courtroom on John Cain Area from April 10 to 11, then fly again for the start of the European clay swing. It made it tough to influence Britain’s high gamers to decide to the tie.
World No. 54 Kartal, the squad’s highest-ranked participant, is a robust BJK Cup participant with a 3-1 file within the workforce competitors. Her solely loss got here to Emma Navarro on the BJK Cup Finals final September.
The Brighton-based star is in kind after reaching the fourth spherical of Indian Wells, upsetting Navarro and world No. 15 Madison Keys en route. However she was pressured to retire mid-match in opposition to Elena Rybakina, citing a again harm.
Sonay Kartal will lead the British squad in opposition to Australia (Picture: Getty)
Dart and Burrage have additionally represented Staff GB up to now, whereas 2024 Junior US Open champion Stojsavljevic is ready to make her debut. The Aussies have additionally named their five-strong workforce for April’s tie.
Maya Joint, Talia Gibson, Storm Hunter, Kimberly Birrell, and Ellen Perez will signify Australia within the best-of-five-match tie, which incorporates 4 singles matches and one doubles rubber.
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