Tennis

Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup team has stormed into the quarterfinals with a dominant 2-0 victory over Germany in Malaga, Spain. Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter showcased their prowess, securing straight-set wins against Jule Niemeier and Laura Siegemund, respectively.Despite a challenging build-up due to severe weather, both teams displayed contrasting approaches. While Germany opted for privacy and limited media exposure, Great Britain exuded a buoyant mood, celebrating Raducanu's birthday with yoga and cake.Raducanu's performance against Niemeier was a testament to her resilience. Despite a long layoff due to injury, she displayed agility and forced Niemeier into extended rallies. Unforced errors and double faults proved costly for the German, who fought valiantly but ultimately fell short.Boulter's victory over Siegemund was equally impressive. The 36-year-old German, known for her versatility and crowd-pleasing abilities, was unable to match Boulter's dominance. Boulter's aggressive play and control of the court led to a swift 6:1, 6:1 triumph.With two individual victories, Great Britain secured their quarterfinal berth without the need for a doubles match. They will now face defending champions Canada, led by Leylah Fernandez. Boulter, as the highest-ranked player, is likely to face Fernandez in a highly anticipated clash."She's a great player and I have a lot of respect for her," said Boulter. "It will be an absolute battle, but I'm looking forward to it."Great Britain's victory is a testament to their team spirit and determination. They have overcome adversity and are now poised to challenge for the Billie Jean King Cup title.

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has declined the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The decision comes as Raducanu continues to recover from wrist and ankle surgeries.Raducanu's current world ranking is too low to qualify outright for the Olympics, and she was offered one of two International Tennis Federation (ITF) places reserved for former Grand Slam champions. However, she has opted to prioritize her fitness and prepare for the British grass-court season.Iain Bates, head of Great Britain's Olympic tennis team, expressed understanding of Raducanu's decision. "I think she feels this isn't going to be the right timing for her for this summer," Bates said. "She's hopefully got many Olympics ahead of her."Meanwhile, two-time Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray is set to compete in what could be his final tournament. The 37-year-old has been granted an ITF place for Paris 2024 and is expected to participate in both singles and doubles events.Great Britain's tennis nominations for the Olympics include a mix of experienced players and rising stars. Joining Murray in the men's singles are Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, and Dan Evans. Katie Boulter is the only British woman to have qualified by ranking.In doubles action, Murray and Evans will pair up in the men's doubles. Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski will also compete in the men's doubles, while Boulter and Heather Watson will team up in the women's doubles.The Olympic tennis tournament will take place from July 27 to August 4 at Roland Garros and will feature five medal events: women's singles, men's singles, women's doubles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles.