The LTA has today confirmed the five players to face France in the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier on April 14-15 at Coventry’s Building Society Arena.
Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Katie Boulter, Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls will make up the team nominated today to the ITF.
Explaining her selections, GB Billie Jean King Cup Captain Anne Keothavong said, “I’m pleased to name the same team as the one we had four months ago in Glasgow where we gelled so well, and the team spirit was electric. There were some memorable performances across the week to help us reach the semifinals. Harriet Dart showed us what she’s capable of by beating the likes of Badosa and Tomljanovic. We saw Alicia and Olivia make their Cup debut, where they brought so much energy to the court and demonstrated how important doubles is. Katie and Heather have a proven track record in this competition and are enthusiastic as ever to be part of this team. While Emma is unavailable for this tie we look forward to seeing her back on the team in the near future”.
Last November, Great Britain reached the semi-finals of the ‘World Cup of Tennis’ in 2022 for the first time since 1981. France, who most recently won their third Billie Jean King Cup trophy in 2019, secured their place in the 2023 Qualifiers having beaten Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs in November.
The two nations have faced each other three times previously in the competition but not for 42 years, with France winning 2-1 in 1975 but Great Britain winning the last two in 1976 and 1981.
Tickets, starting from £5 are currently on sale for the two-day event via the Coventry Building Society Arena website: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cbsarena/Events. Play starts on Friday at 14:00 with two singles matches, then Saturday’s reverse singles and the doubles match starts two hours earlier at midday.
Previously the Arena played host to a memorable Davis Cup tie in April 2013 when Great Britain defeated Russia 3-2 in a Euro/Africa Group One tie in April 2013. The victory marked the first time in 83 years GB had come from 0-2 down to win a tie.