- Emma Raducanu came from a set and a break down to defeat Caroline Garcia
- It means that Great Britain and France are level after day one in the BJK Cup
- Earlier, British number 1 Katie Boulter lost on unknown clay to Diane Parry 6-2, 6-0
The performance we’ve all been waiting for came when it was least expected.
Emma Raducanu dragged Great Britain back into this Billie Jean King Cup tie by coming from a set and a break down to beat France No. 1 Caroline Garcia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed bigger victories up the rankings, but given the still unfamiliar clay court surface, the partisan atmosphere at Le Portel and the style of action, this was Raducanu’s best result since winning the 2021 US Open.
British No. 1 Katie Boulter started the day by winning the first two games and then losing the next twelve as her unfamiliarity with the surface was brutally exposed by stylish 21-year-old French Diane Parry, 6-2, 6- 0.
Remarkably, this was the 27-year-old’s first-ever tour-level match on the red sand – a symptom of the injuries that have pockmarked her career – and it showed.
Emma Raducanu came from a set and a break-down to defeat the French Caroline Garcia
Perhaps Raducanu’s best result since the 2021 US Open, it means GB are level in the BJK Cup
Previously, Katie Boulter lost twelve games in a row in a 6-2, 6-0 defeat to France’s Diane Parry
So GB was one behind in the best-of-five and Raducanu was a set and 2-0 behind against former number 4 in the world. But even in losing that opening set, Raducanu had played well and when Garcia – a notoriously streaky player – started to drop her level, the British player pounced. All the hallmarks of Raducanu were there: aggressive returns, dazzling defensive movement and, above all, a deadly focus.
While Garcia devolved into Gallic gestures of self-flagellation, Raducanu was like a coiled steel spring. She was so dialed in that she celebrated early, raising her fist at 5-1. “Sometimes I’m just so locked in that I don’t really understand the score,” she said. ‘It was quite embarrassing! All I was thinking was that if I lose this, I’ll look like a real muppet. So I’m glad I was able to keep it up.
‘It’s very difficult to play against Caroline, who has had such a good season. I was the underdog going out here in her own home, on clay. I fought really hard, I dug myself in. ‘That was a very good test, because I haven’t had those level competitions very often.’
Captain Anne Keothavong must decide on Saturday whether to stick with her number 1 player Boulter, who looked like this on this surface, or drop her for Harriet Dart. Whoever plays will face him, so GB will likely need another Raducanu masterclass and a win in the decisive doubles to reach November’s final. “To be honest, I don’t mind playing to the crowd,” Raducanu added. “They can get as loud as they want. Today, tomorrow, whenever. I think that’s a strength of mine.’