Tennis

Emma Raducanu: British No 1 to sit out Billie Jean King Cup duty in qualifier against Australia in April

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Emma Raducanu: British No 1 to sit out Billie Jean King Cup duty in qualifier against Australia in April

Emma Raducanu will sit out Billie Jean King Cup duty for Great Britain again in their qualifier against Australia next month.

It will be the third successive time Raducanu has chosen not to play for the national team, although she is not alone, with a trip to Melbourne for the tie on April 10-11 not an attractive prospect at the start of the European clay season.

British No 2 Sonay Kartal will lead the team but Katie Boulter and Fran Jones are also missing, with Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage and 17-year-old debutante Mika Stojsavljevic making up the quartet.

Captain Anne Keothavong could add a fifth member nearer the tie, which will be played at the John Cain Arena at Melbourne Park.

Keothavong, who has led Britain to back-to-back semi-finals, said: "Playing away from home against a strong nation like Australia is going to be tough but we always embrace these weeks together as a team and will be up for the challenge in Melbourne.

"We've got players with great experience in this competition in our team and it's an exciting opportunity for Mika to join the senior team for the first time."

Standing in their way of a place in the Finals will be an Australian side that includes Maya Joint, Talia Gibson, Kimberly Birrell, Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez.

The tie will be played as best of five matches - including four singles and one doubles rubber.

Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team vs Australia:

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