Harriet Dart in the first round of the 2022 US Open, New York
Harriet Dart in the first round of the 2022 US Open, New York | (Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)

Tennis | Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2024 | Harriet Dart believes Great Britain can beat anyone ahead of Germany test

By Tony Fairbairn

  • Harriet Dart believes Great Britain have nothing to fear as they prepare for a first round clash with Germany
  • 12 teams will battle in Malaga for the right to be Billie Jean King Cup champions
MALAGA, SPAIN – Harriet Dart believes Great Britain can beat anyone as they prepare to take on Germany in the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

 

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It’s time for Great Britain to take centre stage at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals as they prepare for an eventful week in Malaga. The British team compete in the 12 team event to crown the champions of the event. First up for Anne Keothavong’s side will be Germany in the first round with the winners taking on defending champions Canada in the quarter-finals.

The tie against Germany will be one of four first round ties with the other ties seeing Slovakia take on USA, Spain will face Poland while Japan clash with Romania. The other three teams that advance to the quarter-finals are Australia, Czech Republic and Italy. First round ties will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with Britain’s tie with Germany being the last of the ties.

The rest of the tournament will be played from Saturday onwards with the final set to be next Wednesday, 20th of November. This will be the final year of the current format with next year set to be an eight team format in order to mirror the Davis Cup final eight format.

 

 

Dart believes Britain can beat anyone as teams announced

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Great Britain’s team in Malaga will be led by British number one Katie Boulter and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who has fitness concerns heading into the event. Making up the rest of the team are Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls with Mingge Xu there as an alternate.

It’s a big week for the British team who are in with a chance of creating British tennis history. Although there are some big names competing in Malaga, Dart believes that this team can beat anyone in the draw although they are wary of the threat that Germany possesses.

β€œThey have a really strong team. They might not have that standout player, but they have really good depth in their squad,” Dart told the Eurosport website about the German squad.

β€œThey have a lot of experience in their team as well as youth. You never know who they’ll play, how they’re feeling. Equally, we have a very strong team and, on our day, I think we can beat anyone.”

Leading the German team will be the experienced Laura Siegemund with singles stars Jule Niemeier, Tatjana Maria and Eva Lys also in the squad. Doubles specialist Anna-Lena Friedsam completes the team who are captained by Rainer Schuettler. Should Britain get past Germany then they will play defending champions Canada who are led by Leylah Fernandez although Bianca Andreescu is missing from their team this year.

Other top names that are playing in Malaga this week include Paula Badosa, Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini as well as world number two Iga Swiatek. Here are the complete team nominations for the event with play beginning on Wednesday.

 

Team Nominations

Great Britain

Katie Boulter

Emma Raducanu

Harriet Dart

Heather Watson

Olivia Nicholls

Captain: Anne Keothavong

Germany

Laura Siegemund

Jule Niemeier

Tatjana Maria

Eva Lys

Anna-Lena Friedsam

Captain: Rainer Schuttler

Canada

Leylah Fernandez

Rebecca Marino

Marina Stakusic

Gabriela Dabrowski

Captain: Heidi El Tabakh

Australia

Ajla Tomljanovic

Olivia Gadecki

Kimberly Birrell

Daria Saville

Ellen Perz

Captain: Sam Stosur

Czech Republic

Linda Noskova

Marie Bouzkova

Katerina Siniakova

Sara Bejlek

Captain: Petr Pala

Italy

Jasmine Paolini

Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Lucia Bronzetti

Sara Errani

Martina Trevisan

Captain: Tathiana Garbin

Japan

Moyuka Uchijima

Ena Shibahara

Nao Hibino

Eri Hozumi

Shuko Aoyama

Captain: Ai Sugiyama

Poland

Iga Swiatek

Magdalena Frech

Magda Linette

Maja Chwalinska

Katarzyna Kawa

Captain: Dawid Celt

Romania

Jaqueline Cristian

Anca Todoni

Ana Bogdan

Elena Gabriela Ruse

Monica Niculescu

Captain: Horia Tecau

Slovakia

Rebecca Sramkova

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova

Viktoria Hruncakova

Renata Jamrichova

Tereza Mihalikova

Captain: Matej Liptak

Spain

Paula Badosa

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Nuria Parrizas-Diaz

Sara Sorribes Tormo

Marina Bassols Ribera

Captain: Anabel Medina Garrigues

USA

Danielle Collins

Peyton Stearns

Ashlyn Krueger

Taylor Townsend

Caroline Dolehide

Captain: Lindsay Davenport

 

 

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