Summary

  1. Japan and Australia qualify for November's finalspublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 13 April

    Naomi Osaka of JapanImage source, Getty Images

    Here's a quick run down of the scores from all the other Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.

    Japan and Australia are the first two teams to have qualified for November's finals in Seville.

    Switzerland 0-2 Poland

    Australia 4-0 Mexico

    Japan 3-1 Kazakhstan

    Slovakia 2-0 Slovenia

    USA 2-0 Belgium

    Brazil 0-2 Germany

    Ukraine 2-0 Romania

    Who else will make it to the last eight?

  2. Who is playing for France?published at 12:23 British Summer Time 13 April

    Kristina Mladenovic, Diane Parry, Clara Burel, Caroline Garcia and Captain Julien Benneteau of FranceImage source, Getty Images

    World number 23 Caroline Garcia is the highest-ranked player in either team, and has previously been as high as number five in the world.

    Garcia isn't going to be playing any singles today, but she is still down for doubles as it stands. The 30-year-old is an experienced doubles player, having won two Grand Slam doubles titles alongside team-mate Kristina Mladenovic.

    Mladenovic herself is a former world number one in doubles and was previously a top-10 singles player.

    The relatively inexperienced Diane Parry and Clara Burel complete their team.

  3. Who is playing for Great Britain?published at 12:18 British Summer Time 13 April

    Captain Anne Keothavong, Katie Boulter, Fran Jones, Heather Watson, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart of team Great-BritainImage source, Getty Images

    Katie Boulter, the British number one and world number 28, is the highest-ranked player in Anne Keothavong's side.

    Boulter recently won the biggest title of her career at March's San Diego Open and broke into the world's top 30 for the time.

    Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu is playing in her first BJK Cup event since April 2022 as she works her way back from a lengthy injury lay-off.

    Boulter and Raducanu are joined by Harriet Dart, who clinched Britain's spot in the qualifiers, and Heather Watson, who could appear in her 36th tie.

    Fran Jones was a late addition to the squad, fresh from reaching her first WTA 125 final on the clay courts in Mexico.

  4. Saturday's schedulepublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 13 April

    Emma RaducanuImage source, Getty Images

    So what does today's schedule in Le Portel look like?

    The two single ties on day two of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers are traditionally reverse fixtures from the day before.

    However, the team captains - Anne Keothavong and Julien Benneteau - can change the nominations.

    Emma Raducanu keeps her place and will face Diane Parry, but Katie Boulter will be facing Clara Burel in the opening match instead of Caroline Garcia.

    The French number one seemed to be struggling slightly with a shoulder problem yesterday.

    If the best-of-five series has not been won after the two singles matches, a doubles match will be the decider.

    Harriet Dart and Heather Watson are scheduled to take part in that one against France's Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic.

    Anyway, it all gets under way from 12:30 BST...

  5. How does the Billie Jean King Cup work?published at 12:11 British Summer Time 13 April

    Great Britain logos are seen during a practice session prior to the Billie Jean King CupImage source, Getty Images

    The tie between GB and France takes place on an indoor clay court in Le Portel in northern France.

    Each play-off tie is a best-of-five series, with four singles matches followed by a deciding doubles match if needed.

    The winner progresses to November's Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Spain.

    Twelve nations compete in the Finals event - eight qualifiers, last year's finalists Canada and Italy, host nation Spain and a wildcard.

    The loser of the tie in France will compete in Group I events in 2025.

  6. What happened yesterday?published at 12:05 British Summer Time 13 April

    Media caption,

    Billie Jean King Cup: Emma Raducanu win brings GB level against France

    Team GB had started Friday on the back foot after British number one Katie Boulter was beaten 6-2 6-0 by Diane Parry.

    And things looked to be going from bad to worse for Anne Keothavong's side when Emma Raducanu went a set and a break down to Caroline Garcia.

    But she rallied superbly, growing in confidence to beat the world number 28 3-6 6-3 6-2 on the clay court in Le Portel.

    It means we go into today with the best-of-five tie in the balance at 1-1.

    And Raducanu is in red hot form.

    Media caption,

    Billie Jean King Cup: Katie Boulter defeated by Diane Parry - best shots

  7. Hello!published at 12:00 British Summer Time 13 April

    Emma Raducanu of Great BritainImage source, Getty Images

    And welcome to day two of Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against France.

    Emma Raducanu looked back to her best on Friday as GB look to seal a place in the November's finals, but it was a bad day at the office for Katie Boulter.

    It's all square in Le Portel which should make today very interesting!

    Caroline Garcia of FranceImage source, Getty Images