Staff GB captain Anne Keothavong is disenchanted not to have the ability to name upon Emma Raducanu for Billie Jean King Cup obligation however says she has full perception within the gamers at her disposal.
Raducanu had initially been chosen for this week’s quarter-final in opposition to Japan however withdrew to play within the Korea Open in Seoul as a wild card.
The 2021 US Open champion obtained her marketing campaign in that competitors off to a stable begin, beating Jaqueline Cristin in straight units within the first spherical and now faces 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova within the second spherical on Thursday morning, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Highlights of Raducanu in opposition to Cristian from the Korea Open
Regardless of being with out their high participant, Keothavong is concentrating on a really sturdy efficiency from Staff GB, who changed Raducanu with Francesca Jones in a bunch that additionally contains Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Jodie Burrage.
“It is clearly disappointing, however I do need the primary focus to be on the gamers I’ve and the problem we now have forward,” Keothavong mentioned.
“I consider within the gamers that I’ve obtained. How the crew have been capable of carry out in April to get us into this place was unbelievable, and I see no cause why we will not do the identical.
“Gamers will make selections they really feel is of their greatest curiosity, however my focus is simply on this crew.
Katie Boulter is a part of Staff GB for the Billie Jean King Cup
“We take an enormous quantity of delight on this competitors and we do need to be world champions.”
Japan may also be with out their No 1 participant Naomi Osaka for Staff GB’s first recreation of a match by which Keothavong is assured the crew can go one higher than in earlier visits.
“I feel we have an actual shot at successful it,” Keothavong mentioned.
“We’re the second seeds right here, having reached the semi-finals twice prior to now few years and are available near going additional.”
It was a disappointing day, although, for Cameron Norrie, who suffered a shock 6-7 (3) 6-4 7-6 (2) loss in opposition to 304th-ranked Chinese language wild card Zhou Yi on the Chengdu Open, with the 20-year-old saving a match level.
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