Semi-final Preview: Great Britain v Slovakia
18/11/2024 14:04
Slovakia have already seen off USA and Australia - can they now get past an in-form Katie Boulter and co?
By Ross McLean
What’s at stake?
By the end of this tie, one of the two nations on show will have cemented their place in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge final, which will be contested on Wednesday in Malaga.
It is also worth noting that if Slovakia defeat Great Britain, they will have beaten three Grand Slam-hosting nations – USA, Australia and Great Britain – in successive ties. That would be quite something.
History
This will be Slovakia’s first Billie Jean King Cup semi-final since 2013, while the previous one was when they went all the way and topped the podium in 2002.
It often catches people by surprise, but Slovakia ruled the world that year after dispatching Switzerland, France and Italy in home-or-away ties before overpowering Spain in a final held in Gran Canaria.
Great Britain, meanwhile, last reached the semi-finals in 2022 when they succumbed to Australia, while the time before that was last century. Prior to the Glasgow Finals of 2022, their last semi-final appearance was in 1981.
Great Britain have reached the Billie Jean King Cup final on four occasions – in 1967, 1971, 1972 and 1981 – but have never won it. Their clash with Slovakia is the next hurdle on the road to putting that right.
Slovakia have won both of their previous encounters with Great Britain, most recently during the 2020 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers in Bratislava. Slovakia prevailed 3-1 with Anna Karolina Schmiedlova winning two matches.
Prior to 1994, Slovak players represented Czechoslovakia and there were five meetings between Great Britain and Czechoslovakia dating back to 1966. Great Britain won three of them.
Who to look out for?
Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter have been in sparkling form for Great Britain. Both are playing with panache, proving themselves a real force on the world stage.
There is quality on the other side of the net too, with Rebecca Sramkova, who is highly likely to face Boulter in the second singles match of the tie, delivering a surprise performance here in Malaga. This should be a fantastic encounter.
Sramkova this week returned to Billie Jean King Cup action for the first time since 2020. Her victory against the USA’s Danielle Collins was her first competition match-win since 2017.
Viktoria Hruncakova, meanwhile, recorded her sixth successive Billie Jean King Cup victory across singles and doubles with her win over Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic on Sunday.
Given the prowess of Raducanu and Boulter, Great Britain’s doubles has remained untested in Malaga, whereas Slovakian duo Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova made a match-winning contribution against USA.
This one could go the distance - it is tough to call.
Who is saying what?
Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong: “Myself and all the other staff members are doing our best to instil the belief that the players and the team can do this. We're not looking too far ahead, but it's about the overall package. We're in it to win it.”
Viktoria Hruncakova: “For us, it’s always a big challenge to play those countries [Grand Slam-hosting nations]. We have nothing to lose. That’s why I think we enjoy it so much.”
