Nominations in for Great Britain's semi-final Slovakia showdown at Billie Jean King Cup Finals

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals reach their conclusion over the next two days with Italy already into the final in Malaga having seen off Poland yesterday. But now it is Great Britain's turn.

While it is snowy back in the UK, they will hope that Slovakia don't freeze up their bid for glory with the nominations now in for the semi-final showdown on Tuesday afternoon.

As ever the tandem of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter who have worked so seamlessly in singles this week will return. Is doubles needed though today with Slovakia impressing all week and being a cork in the bottle with two of their players in some form.

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Raducanu who face Viktoria Hrancakova who has been exquisite this week in stunning the USA and also Australia. Ranked 238 but in reality not a true reflection of her excellence. But the Brit has been sailing to wins over Germany and Canada this week which has set up Boulter to complete the job in usually the tougher singles assignment.

Boulter was one of the most in-form players on the tour in the back end of 2024 and has brought the Asian hard court form back indoors. She has seen off Laura Siegemund and also Leylah Fernandez with the defending champions slayed. She has been full of praise for Raducanu in the media and the role she has played. But it is Rebecca Sramkova in their tie. A player who has barely lost in the latter half of the year and one of her only defeats was to a fellow Brit in Sonay Kartal in Monastir.

So a tougher tie on paper than perhaps the other two prior as Fernandez only really showed form in Hong Kong and barely had won a match on tour before that. While Siegemund albeit is tricky is not on Boulter's level.

Hruncakova will return with Mihalikova if they manage to force the doubles decider and will face Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson. Neither this pairing or Harriet Dart who is also in M`alaga have been needed this week. The former two merely due to the excellence of Raducanu and Boulter and in reality similar to Swiatek yesterday, it could see one of the two swapped in if it goes to doubles. Two giant killers this week and one awaits Italy in the final.