Emma Raducanu received on her Billie Jean King Cup debut to haul Nice Britain stage with the Czech Republic and depart the qualifying tie delicately poised.
Raducanu, 19, was enjoying her first senior match on clay, adjusting effectively to the floor to win 7-5 7-5 towards world quantity 50 Tereza Martincova.
The US Open champion levelled the best-of-five tie after Harriet Dart misplaced 6-1 6-0 to Marketa Vondrousova.
The nations play two singles matches on Saturday, plus a doubles if wanted.
The winners will qualify for November’s finals, whereas the runners-up face a play-off tie the identical week.
Britain are among the many nations bidding to host the finals and will additionally nonetheless qualify because the host nation.
Following her gorgeous ascent prior to now yr, it’s straightforward to overlook how Raducanu continues to be a novice by way of skilled expertise.
However she confirmed each little bit of her expertise and mentality to return by means of a tricky battle with 27-year-old Martincova.
{The teenager} saved a set level at 5-4 within the opener earlier than successful the subsequent three video games, and in addition fought again from a 4-1 deficit within the second.
Raducanu received six of the ultimate seven video games to clinch a significant victory for herself and her staff, displaying her elation with a enthusiastic celebration earlier than she was hugged by her team-mates.
With sickness and harm hampering her first full season on the principle WTA tour, it was solely Raducanu’s third match win in 2022.
“This one means a lot to me,” stated world quantity 12 Raducanu, who is about to play Vondrousova within the reverse singles on Saturday.
“This yr I’ve received quite a lot of the primary units, I have been main the match, however to truly shut it out in two units positively gave me quite a lot of confidence and I am very completely satisfied that I managed to.
“Taking part in on clay positively took some adjusting, even now. The circumstances had been very windy and a few unhealthy bounces, so to regulate and adapt within the state of affairs was very difficult however I am very pleased with how I dug in.
“To start with of the second set, I went a bit flat and everybody in my staff was telling me the depth had dropped. It’s tough to regain that however I am very completely satisfied I did in the long run.”
‘She did not let me play effectively’
Raducanu leads a new-look British aspect in Prague, with the aspect not in a position to name on both lately retired Johanna Konta or Heather Watson for the primary time since 2010.
Captain Anne Keothavong recognises it’s a “altering of the guard” and says she is worked up by the crop of younger gamers she has at her disposal.
However they face a tough process towards the Czechs, who’ve received the staff occasion six occasions since 2011, on the out of doors clay, despite the fact that they’re with out star trio Barbora Krejcikova, Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova.
Dart, 25, broke into the world high 100 lately after reaching the fourth spherical at Indian Wells, however she was unable to ship a robust begin for Britain.
Vondrousova is ranked thirty second on this planet and her high quality on clay confirmed.
British quantity two Dart broke serve within the opening sport however was unable to keep up the strain – significantly struggling on her personal serve and producing seven double faults – as she misplaced in simply 55 minutes.
“It was a really difficult match. I simply really feel like I want some extra time on the clay. I am very inexperienced on the floor and he or she is a Grand Slam finalist on this floor,” stated Dart.
“She positively put me underneath strain so much. I did not really feel my greatest however she additionally did not let me play effectively.”
Evaluation
Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent in Prague
Most of the time this yr, the tight units and the tight matches have gone towards Emma Raducanu.
However right here, on her clay courtroom and British senior staff debut and with victory nearly important within the context of the tie, she appeared to have extra perception on the essential moments.
The US Open champion solely began to play factors on clay on Wednesday, however as we have now already found, the 19-year-old is a quick learner.
It’s going to nonetheless require a stupendous effort for Britain to win this tie, and as a Roland Garros runner-up, Marketa Vondrousova is probably going to offer a sterner take a look at for Raducanu in Saturday’s opening match.
