Great Britain are in quarter-final action against Japan at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals today but Emma Raducanu isn’t playing for her country.
Britain secured their spot at the finals of the team-based tennis event in April after impressive qualifying wins over Germany and the Netherlands.
Anne Keothavong’s team reached the semi-finals last year but Britain have never won the BJK Cup – previously called Fed Cup and Federation Cup.
Britain have been runners-up on four occasions in 1967, 1971, 1972 and 1981 respectively with this year’s finals taking place in Shenzhen, China.
Scroll down to find out why Raducanu isn’t playing for Great Britain as well as how to watch the Billie Jean King Cup in the UK and Britain’s squad for the tournament…
Why isn’t Emma Raducanu playing for Great Britain?
Raducanu isn’t playing for Britain at the BJK Cup Finals because she felt an extra week on the WTA Tour with her new coach Francisco Roig would be better for the long-term development of her game.
The 22-year-old teamed up with Roig last month – and instead of representing Britain – she is currently playing at the Korea Open in Seoul.
Raducanu defeated Jaqueline Cristian on Wednesday and is back in action today (Thursday, September 18) as she takes on Barbora Krejcikova in the last 16.
The 2021 US Open winner, currently ranked world No.33 and the British No.1, was seen in tears during her first-round victory over Cristian.
Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad
With Raducanu absent, British No.2 Katie Boulter – world No.55 – is the highest-ranked player in Keothavong’s team.
Sonay Kartal and Jodie Burrage are also in Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup squad, along with Francesca Jones, who replaced Raducanu.
British No.3 Jones is currently ranked world No.73 while British No.4 Kartal is world No.82 and British No.5 Burrage is world No.149.
How to watch the Billie Jean King Cup in the UK
Tennis fans in the UK can watch every match from the Billie Jean King Cup on BBC Sport, BBC iPlayer and the Tennis Channel.
Britain’s quarter-final with Japan gets underway at 10am UK time today (Thursday, September 18).
‘I think we’ve got a real shot at [winning] it,’ British captain Keothavong said. ‘We are the second seeds here, having reached the semi-finals twice in the past few years and having come close to going further.’