Emma Raducanu claims her opponent’s ranking is not correct after beating her at the Billie Jean King Cup finals

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Emma Raducanu won the opening match of Great Britain’s semi-final tie against Slovakia in straight sets.

Raducanu took the Billie Jean King Cup by storm in 2024, winning every match she played.

The Brit entered the event with a lot of uncertainty, due to Raducanu’s recent injury at the Korea Open.

She had struggled with injuries throughout the year, but fans were impressed when Raducanu reached the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year, her best Grand Slam result since winning the US Open in 2021.

The 22-year-old began her Billie Jean King Cup campaign strongly, as Raducanu scored wins against Germany and Canada, before facing off against her Slovakian opponent in the semi-finals.

Emma Raducanu says 234th in the world Viktoria Hruncakova should be ranked much higher

Speaking to BBC Sport after her 6-4, 6-4 win over Viktoria Hruncakova at the Billie Jean King Cup finals, Raducanu was full of praise for her Slovakian opponent.

“I think today was a really, really tough battle,” she said.

“My opponent has a huge ball strike, and I think despite her ranking she plays much above that.

“Especially on these courts, it really suits her.”

Hruncakova is ranked 234th in the world and won just a handful of matches on the WTA Tour in 2024.

Raducanu went on to say just how pleased she was to get the win for her country.

“Every match is extremely challenging, and I think as the tournament progresses, it’s more and more,” she said.

“I’m really pleased with how I once again composed myself and toughed it out in both sets.”

Great Britain knocked out of Billie Jean King Cup

Despite Raducanu’s strong performance that gave Great Britain a 1-0 lead in the tie, Katie Boulter’s three-set defeat to Rebecca Sramkova levelled things up for the Slovakians.

A dominant display in the doubles, saw Slovakia dump Great Britain out of the competition, as the Brits wait for a first title goes on.

After 40 years in the Billie Jean King Cup wilderness, Great Britain finally announced their return to the top of the game in 2022, as they reached their first semi-final since 1981.

Reaching the last four once again in 2024, Raducanu and the rest of her GB teammates were hoping to go all the way and finally come home with the trophy.

After falling to the United States and Australia 15 times in the latter stages of the tournament throughout history, it was Slovakia who knocked out the Brits this time around.

They’ll have to go again next year, as their wait for a first title goes on.

Slovakia will take on defending champions Italy in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup on Wednesday.