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Emma Raducanu out of Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup squad

Emma Raducanu out of Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup squad
© Reuters
Emma Raducanu is left out as Great Britain name an unchanged Billie Jean King Cup squad for April's qualifier against France.

British number one Emma Raducanu has once again not been included in Great Britain's squad for their upcoming Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against France.

The former US Open champion was not part of the team during GB's historic run to the semi-finals last year, where they ultimately lost to Australia in Glasgow.

A wrist injury prevented Raducanu from competing in last year's Finals, but she enjoyed a strong run to the last 16 of the Indian Wells Masters this week, eventually losing to Iga Swiatek.

Raducanu recovered from injury and tonsillitis to defeat Danka Kovinic, Magda Linette and Beatriz Haddad Maia in California, but she will play no part in next month's qualifier as Anne Keothavong sticks with an unchanged team of five.

Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Katie Boulter, Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls will take to the Coventry Building Society Arena between April 14-15, although Keothavong has expressed hope that Raducanu - who is competing at the Stuttgart Open from April 17 - will represent her nation in the near future.

"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," Keothavong told the official LTA website.

Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup team react after losing to Australia on November 12, 2022© Reuters

"There were some memorable performances across the week to help us reach the semi-finals. Harriet showed us what she's capable of by beating the likes of [Paula] Badosa and [Ajla] 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."

In front of a buoyant Glasgow crowd, Great Britain finished top of Group C ahead of Spain and Kazakhstan in 2022 to advance to the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 1981.

Singles wins for Storm Sanders and Dart against Watson and Tomljanovic respectively forced a deciding doubles rubber, where Barnett and Nicholls fell to defeat in a tie-breaker to Sanders and Samantha Stosur.

Australia ended up losing to Switzerland in the final, and both nations have already qualified for the 2023 Finals after battling in last year's showpiece event.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup team react after losing to Australia on November 12, 2022
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