"I have given everything I possibly could": Katie Boulter 'emotionally tired' but 'proud' as Billie Jean King Cup ends remarkable season

Katie Boulter was defeated by Rebecca Sramkova 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 which saw Slovakia get back into the semi-finals at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

But it is a sense of proud over huge disappointment for Boulter who has spent the past few seasons injured and not fulfilling her undoubted ceiling. This year has been different though.

As Emma Raducanu her teammate who also shone this week has taken some time to get back into her stride, Boulter has taken top mantle and continues to thrive. She brought a superb Asian hard court swing to her performances in Malaga and said she will take time to reflect on what has been a draining season but a fruitful one.

But also she admitted that despite Sramkova's ranking, she knew it was going to be a tough test and it proved to be.

"Obviously a world-class player. Someone who plays above their ranking. I knew that going in, I knew how tough today was going to be," said Boulter.

"I could let it slip at any point and you know I felt like I started to struggle a little bit on serve. That basically was the match for me. I was still there fighting, giving everything I possibly could but ultimately I didn't serve well enough which kind of cost me the match. But I mean credit to her. She played some very good tennis and started to adapt from the way I was playing in the first set and I mean it's natural for players to do that."

"I couldn't dig it out in the end but I gave it everything I got."

She said that she gave it everything and can leave Malaga knowing her season has been one that she has given her all in both for herself and for her country.

"Obviously it's going to be really important for me to take a moment for myself. Remember what I've actually done this year. I've got two titles behind me, I'm at a career high ranking.

"This week has also been great for me. I have had some really good wins. I really want to use that next year and I really feel like I can push on. But it's going to be extremely important for me to take a moment right now and have a few days to myself and pick myself back up. It's a long season, I'm a little emotionally tired. But I have given everything I possibly could for this country and I'm proud of that. That's all I can ask of myself."