Summary

  • Great Britain miss out on Billie Jean King Cup final after 2-1 loss to Slovakia

  • Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls lose to Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova in deciding doubles

  • Emma Raducanu beat Hruncakova in straight sets in first singles match

  • But Katie Boulter lost to Rebecca Sramkova to send tie to doubles

  • Slovakia will face Italy in Wednesday's final

  1. Postpublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 5-2 Hruncakova

    Sue Thearle
    Tennis commentator on BBC Red Button

    It's on Emma Raducanu's terms now.

    It's been such a measured performance from her today, from start to finish. Tactically, I think absolutely spot on.

  2. Raducanu breakspublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 5-2 Hruncakova

    Viktoria Hruncakova goes long!

    Emma Raducanu has a double break and will shortly be serving for the match.

    Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates in her singles match against Viktoria HruncakovaImage source, Getty Images
  3. Break point Raducanupublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 4-2 Hruncakova*

    The first break point is saved with an ace.

    One more to go...

  4. Break points Raducanupublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 4-2 Hruncakova*

    Emma Raducanu shows all of her battling qualities to stay in a rally that Viktoria Hruncakova was dominating, and finds the backhand winner for 0-30.

    Hruncakova gets a point back, but a double fault gives Raducanu two points for a double break.

  5. 'A really gnarly hold'published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 4-2 Hruncakova*

    Sue Thearle
    Tennis commentator on BBC Red Button

    That is some hold to have come through, a really gnarly hold. One where you roll up your sleeves, wipe your brow and think 'I will not be broken here'.

  6. Raducanu holdspublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 4-2 Hruncakova*

    Viktoria Hruncakova goes wide with a backhand and Emma Raducanu is just two games away from putting Great Britain 1-0 up in this semi-final tie.

    * denotes next server

  7. Postpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Hruncakova

    Oh that's terrific from Emma Raducanu - a forehand winner down the line to bring up game point for a 4-2 lead...

    But Viktoria Hruncakova's powerful groundstrokes are in evidence again. Raducanu nets, back we go to deuce.

  8. Postpublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Hruncakova

    A double fault, followed by an ace by Emma Raducanu to start the game.

    She lets out another roar as Hruncakova finds the net for 40-30, but another double fault - her sixth of the match - takes us to deuce.

  9. Postpublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Hruncakova

    Mel South
    Former British player on BBC TV

    What an important match this could be because it makes such a difference to Katie Boulter behind the scenes if she comes out at 1-0 up or 1-0 down.

    Everyone is doing everything they can, keeping the focus with Emma Raducanu.

  10. Watch: Raducanu wins amazing rallypublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Hruncakova

    As Emma Raducanu contemplates coming out to serve with a 3-2 lead in the second set, here's one of the points of the match so far...

    Media caption,

    Raducanu wins amazing rally after Hruncakova mistake

  11. 'Raducanu sensed the moment'published at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Hruncakova

    Sue Thearle
    Tennis commentator on BBC Red Button

    Super high tennis in that return game. Emma Raducanu sensed the moment and she has converted.

    You can feel it sometimes.

  12. Raducanu breakspublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 3-2 Hruncakova

    Emma Raducanu finds a couple of excellent returns to bring up 0-30 on the Hruncakova serve and a viciously spinning drop shot forces Hruncakova to find the net.

    Two break points - and Hruncakova goes long early in the rally.

    That seemed to come a bit out of nowhere, but Great Britain have the break of serve.

    Emma Raducanu of Great Britain looks on in her singles match against Viktoria HruncakovaImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 2-2 Hruncakova*

    Sue Thearle
    Tennis commentator on BBC Red Button

    That's the serve Emma Raducanu has been looking for and when she's found it, it has certainly delivered today.

  14. Raducanu holdspublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 2-2 Hruncakova*

    Emma Raducanu has the better of a decent-length rally and then sends down a couple of aces to wrap up the game.

    Danger averted, all square again in set two.

  15. Postpublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 1-2 Hruncakova

    Now it's Emma Raducanu's turn to find the net with what should have been a routine winner to an open court.

    The Brit goes 15-30 down on her serve.

  16. Postpublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 1-2 Hruncakova

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport in Malaga

    Now I know this is a serious sporting competition - but there is always time for fun, right?

    The Spanish DJ seems to have found a box full of 1990s pop records in the attic.

    We've had Shaggy, Gala and Whigfield.

    Turns out the Spanish schoolkids, who I mentioned earlier are filling out the stadium, know all the dance moves to Saturday Night.

    Da ba da dan dee dee dee da nee na na na...

  17. Hruncakova holdspublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 1-2 Hruncakova

    Viktoria Hruncakova produces another incredible unforced error, planting a drop shot into the net with the whole court to aim at.

    Emma Raducanu then finds a forehand winner down the line but, at 40-30, Hruncakova finds a great serve that sets up her taking of game point.

    Viktoria Hruncakova of Slovakia in her singles match against Emma RaducanuImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 1-1 Hruncakova*

    Mel South
    Former British player on BBC TV

    Overall, Emma Raducanu has been serving fantastically well. It was just that little shake at set point.

    Understandably, the nerves come in for any tennis player. It's how you deal with those moments.

  19. Raducanu holdspublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time

    Raducanu 6-4 1-1 Hruncakova*

    Emma Raducanu responds in kind, her serve working much better on this occasion as she gets on the board in set two.

  20. Postpublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time

    *Raducanu 6-4 0-1 Hruncakova

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport in Malaga

    That first set was much harder work for Emma Raducanu than it looked like it would be.

    The British number two has not really found her rhythm with her first serve or returning game.

    When Hruncakova started to land some blows with her powerful game, it hurt an increasingly-passive Raducanu.

    But the gulf in quality, aided by Hruncakova's slow start, meant she still had enough to move ahead.