| Venue: Emirates Enviornment, Glasgow Date: Saturday, 12 November Begin: 10:00 GMT |
| Protection: Dwell on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport web site and app; comply with dwell textual content commentary on web site and app |
Nice Britain “cannot be glad by simply reaching the semi-finals” as they put together to face Australia within the final 4 of the Billie Jean King Cup, says captain Anne Keothavong.
Britain play the seven-time winners in Glasgow from 10:00 GMT on Saturday.
They beat Spain 3-0 on Thursday to succeed in the semi-finals of the occasion for the primary time since 1981.
“We go into the match as underdogs however we’ve got the house assist,” Keothavong informed BBC Sport.
“We nonetheless have a job to do however we’ve got put ourselves in a incredible place.”
There can be dwell protection of the best-of-three tie on BBC Two, the iPlayer and BBC Sport web site.
Olivia Nicholls, who sealed Britain’s last-four place by successful the doubles rubber towards Spain alongside Alicia Barnett, stated the “sky is the restrict” for the hosts.
“I do not see there are any gamers or groups right here that we must always stroll on to court docket pondering we will not beat. We are going to simply maintain going,” stated Nicholls.
There are two singles matches earlier than the doubles, with Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Katie Boulter additionally within the GB squad.
Britain have been runners-up within the competitors – beforehand referred to as the Fed Cup – 4 instances however have by no means received it.
GB ‘creating reminiscences collectively’
Nice Britain go into the semi-final buoyed by the beautiful means they acquired there, defeating the higher-ranked Spain to win Group C, having been getting ready to elimination since shedding their opening tie towards Kazakhstan.
Britain wanted different outcomes to go their means after which to whitewash Spain to remain alive. They did so with an impressed Watson and Dart triumphing in singles earlier than doubles specialists Barnett and Nicholls accomplished the job at a jubilant Emirates Enviornment.
Keothavong described it as “the largest win actually in my time as captain” after “a incredible day with unimaginable performances”.
She added: “What took everyone, me included, without warning was the style they have been capable of ship these victories. To win with out dropping a set was fairly unimaginable. It was one thing particular.
“The gamers are enjoying with quite a lot of perception and so they have appreciated the assist on the market.”
GB didn’t even qualify for this 12 months’s finals initially, having been crushed by the Czech Republic in a play-off in April, however made the ultimate 12 as a result of they have been later named as hosts.
Keothavong, who performed within the competitors between 2001 and 2013 earlier than turning into Nice Britain captain in 2017, was emotional on court docket on Thursday after Barnett and Nicholls’ doubles win.
Referencing Britain’s most up-to-date semi-final look in 1981, Keothavong stated: “Final time it occurred was earlier than I used to be born, not simply the gamers.
“This competitors means a lot to me for therefore many various causes. It is the relationships, the journey and the camaraderie alongside the way in which. We have spoken within the debrief about eager to create reminiscences collectively and we’re doing that.”
Opponents Australia, who defeated Belgium and Slovakia to win Group B, have a squad that includes world quantity 33 Ajla Tomljanovic, Storm Sanders, ranked 237, and 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur, who now focuses on doubles.
“Australia have an enormous quantity of expertise within the competitors,” Keothavong stated. “Their quantity two participant, Storm Sanders, we can’t underestimate her. You have a look at her rating on paper however she rises to the event.”
Australia received the Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup seven instances between 1964 and 1974 however have misplaced 9 finals since then.
Tickets are nonetheless obtainable for Saturday’s matches with the second semi-final, on account of begin at 16:00, between Switzerland and the US or the Czech Republic, who meet in a straight shootout to determine the winners of Group D on Friday.
Evaluation
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller in Glasgow
Nearly everybody has heard of Billie Jean King, however far fewer know precisely what the Billie Jean King Cup is about.
Nice Britain’s magnificent 3-0 win over Spain will give the remainder of these Finals actual impetus, however it’s laborious to rationalise how Britain have reached a World Cup semi-final by successful just one tie. Particularly as they have been knocked out by the Czech Republic in April’s qualifying spherical.
Reinstated as hosts, they’ve seized their alternative gloriously and topped a bunch that includes Kazakhstan’s Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and Spain’s Paula Badosa, till very not too long ago a longtime member of the highest 10.
Australia could have the highest-ranked singles participant within the semi-final, as Ajla Tomljanovic has been within the quarter-finals of each Wimbledon and the US Open this 12 months.
Additionally they have a wealth of doubles choices with Sam Stosur, Storm Sanders and Ellen Perez all within the squad.
However Australia are, on the face of it, much less intimidating opponents than both Spain or Kazakhstan, and Britain are enjoying with home cash and growing dwelling assist.
