Emma Raducanu BJK Cup captain breaks silence as US | Sports News

Anne Keothavong, Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, has spoken out concerning the notable absence of Emma Raducanu and a number of other different main gamers from Team GB’s roster for his or her forthcoming match.

The British squad will journey to Australia for a qualifier towards the host nation at John Cain Arena subsequent month — a exhausting courtroom venue within the Melbourne Park complicated, home to the Australian Open.

The scheduling presents a problem for participant participation, coinciding with the beginning of the European clay-court season, and most of GB’s higher-ranked athletes have opted towards making the prolonged journey to Australia to compete on a contrasting floor for simply two days. Three of Britain’s high 4 feminine gamers — 2021 US Open winner Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Francesca Jones — are absent from the roster.

Raducanu has already confirmed her participation in a WTA Tour match in Linz during that period. In their place, Sonay Kartal will spearhead the four-player lineup, joined by Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage, and BJK Cup newcomer Mika Stojsavljevic. An further fifth participant could also be introduced at a later date.

Captain Keothavong has now commented on the unavailability of Raducanu, Boulter and others. Despite these absences, she stays assured that the British workforce can pull off an upset, as they’ve achieved repeatedly in earlier competitions.

“It’s a difficult time of year to be going back to Australia. It’s the start of the clay-court season for most of the players. I know most of the players take huge pride in representing Great Britain in this competition, but they also have to make choices for their own tennis and for their own health,” Britain’s BJK Cup captain remarked while offering commentary on the Miami Open for Sky Sports.

“But, look, for the girls who have agreed to be part of the team, it’s a tough ask to take on the Australians, who have fielded their strongest team. But you have to give yourself a chance and go out there as best prepared as possible, treat it for what it is, and have a go. We’ve been underdogs before in this competition and have been able to surprise many people, and got to go in with the same attitude.”

Australia will subject a full-strength squad for the qualifier scheduled for April 10 to 11, having chosen Talia Gibson, Maya Joint, Storm Hunter, Kimberly Birrell and Ellen Perez. Gibson has emerged as the standout performer of the ‘Sunshine Double.’

The 21-year-old, positioned outdoors the highest 100 in the beginning of March, secured qualification spots for each Indian Wells and Miami, delivering a number of surprising victories alongside the way in which. At Indian Wells, she defeated top-20 gamers Ekaterina Alexandrova and Clara Tauson en path to the quarterfinals, while additionally securing her maiden top-10 victory towards Jasmine Paolini. Gibson subsequently discovered herself competing within the qualifying rounds for the Miami Open, but superior to the principle draw, the place she has impressively overcome Naomi Osaka and Iva Jovic to achieve the fourth spherical.

“I’ve seen too much of Talia Gibson recently!” Keothavong laughed. “She’s a great tennis player, and even when I saw her compete in Australia at the start of the year, her ball-striking quality is right up there. Obviously, she had a fantastic run in Indian Wells, still going strong here in Miami.

“She’s had a quantity of top-20 wins, and he or she simply appears very assured. She’s nonetheless very younger, 21 years of age, and in the case of representing your nation, I do not suppose she’s been in that place earlier than, enjoying a home tie. The strain might be on her shoulders if she is there competing and representing her nation. But she is an excellent prospect.”