Katie Boulter hopes Great Britain can deliver some “Emma Raducanu magic” to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals this week regardless of the absence of their greatest star.
The former US Open champion has not recovered in time from a wrist damage, leaving Ninety fifth-ranked Harriet Dart to guide the workforce towards among the greatest gamers on the planet.
Britain will tackle Kazakhstan, that includes Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, and Paula Badosa’s Spain in round-robin matches at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, needing to win the group to progress to the semi-finals.
Each tie consists of two singles matches and one doubles, and Britain’s greatest hope might effectively lie with Boulter, who boasts seven wins and just one defeat from her eight singles matches within the competitors previously often known as Fed Cup.
“I think it brings the best out of me,” stated the 26-year-old. “It’s something you can’t replicate, it is bigger than you.
“I take a lot of pride in wearing the flag and, having a couple of those ties being in the UK, I’ve kind of already experienced what it’s going to be like, and I’m sure it’ll be even more so in Glasgow. I play for these moments and I’ll be relishing that.”
Boulter is ranked down at 130 however has proved, particularly on the massive stage, that her highly effective recreation and preventing spirit can carry her to victory over a lot higher-ranked gamers.
On the grass this summer time she claimed six wins over top-100 gamers, together with beating 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova twice.
“What you always have to remember is every single player is human,” stated Boulter. “You’ve just got to be better than the person on the other side of the net that day.
“I take rankings with a pinch of salt. I’ve played some really good tennis probably higher than my ranking, and lower than my ranking, and that gives me hope that I know I can go out there and play some of the best in the world and have a shot.”
Britain earned their place as a wild card by advantage of internet hosting the occasion having misplaced a detailed qualifier towards the Czech Republic in Prague in April.
That tie noticed Raducanu make her senior debut for Britain, and the absence of the 19-year-old is undoubtedly a blow each on court docket and to the profile of the occasion.
Boulter stated: “She’s a huge asset to our team and of course we all wish her well. Health is the priority and I hope she gets better. But it’s time for the girls to step up and I know they will. I have great belief in every single one of them.
“With a home crowd behind us, you never know what can happen. We love an underdog. Let’s hope we can bring a bit of Emma Raducanu magic to Billie Jean King Cup. We have no pressure, we have nothing to lose at all.”
Raducanu has skilled this season the destructive aspect of her rocket to stardom however her unimaginable New York triumph in 2021 has given hope to her compatriots decrease down the pyramid.
Boulter counts herself amongst their quantity, saying: “I think she’s changed everything. I think she’s given everyone a little glimmer of what it takes and also what can happen. I think everyone in the building is humming a little bit off that buzz. It gives them that hope that it can be them.”
The query for Boulter is much less means or potential however whether or not she will be able to keep match for the size of time wanted to turn into at the very least an everyday fixture on the WTA Tour.
A fatigue sickness in her teenagers restricted Boulter’s means to coach and constructing herself up has been a sluggish course of marked by many setbacks, particularly a again damage suffered throughout a Billie Jean King Cup tie in 2019 when she had damaged by into the highest 100.
“It’s been well and truly a rollercoaster,” stated the Leicestershire participant. “I’ve just got to keep focusing on the right things. I genuinely believe that I will have my break.”
Heather Watson and doubles duo Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls full the GB workforce in Glasgow.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk