Billie Jean King Cup finals: Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart’s defeats in Great Britain’s opening match against Kazakhstan at the Billie Jean King Cup finals put a stop to their chances of pulling off an upset.
The Lawn Tennis Association stepped in to organise the event at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, earning Britain a spot in the finals as hosts. However, without the wounded Emma Raducanu, none of the other teams has quite as much strength.
They were optimistic about their chances of pulling off a surprise with home-field advantage on Monday, but Boulter’s 4-6 6-3 6-2 defeat to the tenacious Yulia Putintseva was a significant blow, and Dart was defeated 6-1 6-4 by Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina.
If they beat Spain on Thursday, they could still advance, but if Kazakhstan defeats the Spaniards on Wednesday, that match will be a dead rubber.
With their devoted group of supporters outperforming the meagre British throng, the Kazakhs may possibly lay claim to the noisiest audience.
So happy to have arrived in Scotland for the @BJKCup! 🏴 #BJKCup #BJKCupFinals pic.twitter.com/lNURLl9bJN
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) November 7, 2022
Boulter has consistently performed well in crucial matches despite being ranked 130, some 80 places lower than Putintseva. This seemed to be Britain’s greatest opportunity to score a point.
The 26-year-old from Leicestershire got off to a great start, breaking the other player to love in each of her first two service games. However, she lost her composure in the second set, and a 4-0 deficit in the final proved to be too much of a mountain to climb.
In 11 competition games, Boulter had only suffered two defeats; her first came in a tie against the same opponent at London’s Copper Box in 2019.
She remarked: “I came out swinging and she definitely had a game plan that, I think initially, marginally suited me.
She then completely altered her strategy, and I began to let her play how she (wanted), and she manoeuvred me around the court rather than letting me have the initiative.
Introducing the 'Billie Blue' winner’s jacket by @ToryBurch 😍
The jacket will be awarded to the winners of the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Finals 💙
#BJKCupFinals | @ToryBurchFdn | @BillieJeanKing pic.twitter.com/Ja5p0ithxF— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) November 7, 2022
After three games of the decider, Boulter needed a medical break to massage her left calf, but she dismissed any worries that she wouldn’t be ready for Thursday.
Boulter commented on the underwhelming audience, saying, “I felt like there was a fantastic atmosphere. Because they want to win that battle, the Kazakhs will always bring their drums, and there will be a battle over volume. They probably did today, in my opinion.
“I simply value everyone’s support at this time. Undoubtedly, it would be wonderful to have a slightly rowdier audience there.
The 95th-ranked Dart was never going to be able to compete with Rybakina, who has had ups and downs since winning her first Grand Slam championship at the All England Club. Rybakina has one of the most powerful games on the tour.
Dart fought back strongly after falling behind a set and 2-0 in the second set and had two opportunities to lead 5-4, but Rybakina claimed four straight games before serving out the victory.
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