Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage Doubles Act sends Great Britain to the finals of the BJK Cup | Tennis

With the presence of Great Britain at Billie Jean King Cup this year suspended in the balance, their key competition with the Netherlands related to 1-1, Anne Keothavong made a dramatic call. Instead of the double specialist, Olivia Nicholls, present in the Hague for these games and with Harriet Dart positioned as the double team of the first choice, the British captain has chosen to rely on the pure fire power provided by his individual players.

It turned out to be a stroke of genius. Katie Boulter And Jodie Burrage, both classified outside the top 250 in double and with a minimal experience together, produced a performance inspired to bring their team to victory with a dominant victory for 6-2, 6-2 on Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs.

After defeating Germany 2-1 Friday, the 2-1 victory of Great Britain over the Netherlands qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup finals, an elimination tournament aimed at eight teams that takes place in Shenzhen, China, after the United States Open in September.

“Today they performed the game plan as they could have done and only overwhelmed the opposition,” said Keothavong. “In terms of decision -making process, it has always been an option for us I had on the sleeve and went out there and did the job.”

In the absence of Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal opened the draw with another insured performance by defeating Eva Vedder 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. This week he marked another step forward in his evolution after a better year in his career in which the 23 year old established himself among the first 100 at n. 60.

Kartal’s victory has set the stage for a battle of the players of n. 1 singles. Lamens, classified n. 70, quickly established itself as a tough opponent for everyone. While Boulter has brought improvements to the clay, an opponent in shape, Top-100 is still a significant challenge for her on a surface that attenuates her power and often exposes her lack of adaptability. On this occasion, Lamens was too far away when 6-4, 6-3, fell.

Great Britain boasts a solid pool of single players, but their doubling had become a remarkable weakness. Last year, Nicholls and Heather Watson were flattened in the decisive rubber doubles of the Bjk Cup semifinals against Slovakia. Friday, Nicholls, the double n. 31 and Dart were in the same way dominated by a German team that had been defeated comfort Lamens and Schuurs a night before.

Instead of relying on the same duo, Keothavong opted to take a risk. Although Boulter and Burrage are close friends, this decisive rubber has scored only the second time they had ever played together, their only game a loss of the first round in Nottingham in 2021. Sometimes two quality tennis players are sufficient in a team.

“I think we only have a big connection off the pitch,” said Boulter. “I think we are very comfortable with each other and I think we trust each other. I completely trust his game.”

By far the two largest ball strokes on the field, both served brilliantly while completely dominated the basic exchanges with their destructive shot and closed themselves incessantly on the net. During their 78 minutes on the pitch, Boulter and Burrage completely overwhelmed their Dutch opponents to close an unforgettable victory.

“It’s not as if you had players who play at a double week after week, in addition to Olivia Nicholls, but only find the game styles that work together on a game field,” said Keothavong. “You can practice everything you want, but you are still immersing in the unknown. You have to run your possibilities and, for me as a captain, I have trusted these two. I saw them deliver. And I think that the way they gave today only a kind of seals.”