Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Expectation building for Great Britain before Canada quarter-final

You could hear it being whispered in the breakfast hall of the Malaga hotel where travelling British fans were tucking into their Spanish tortillas.

“We could go on and win this, you know,” one man cautiously confided to the table the morning after Great Britain reached the quarter-finals.

The nation has never won the Billie Jean King Cup.

But the feeling is growing that this year’s event could be as good a chance as any.

In the women’s team tournament branded as the ‘World Cup of Tennis’, GB face defending champions Canada in the last eight – and expectation is building.

“I said it before the competition started, I really believe that we can win this,” said British captain Anne Keothavong, whose team is comprised of Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, Heather Watson, Olivia Nicholls and Harriet Dart.

“I don’t have a problem saying that out loud.”

Keothavong’s team reached the semi-finals on home turf in Glasgow in 2022, but there is a different level of confidence running through the camp now.

In Boulter and Raducanu, Britain have pedigree which ranks among the most substantial in the competition – particularly in their half of the draw.

British number one Boulter, who has moved into the world’s top 25 after a season where she won two WTA titles, is the third-highest ranked singles player left in the competition. Former Grand Slam champion Raducanu also ranks third among the number two players.

Neither will face a higher-ranked player against Canada, nor would they against potential semi-final opponents Australia and Slovakia.

“We’ve got quality players who have shown in their own right what they’re capable of, whether it’s this year or in previous years,” said Keothavong.

“For me to be able to captain the team of incredible women, for Katie to lead the way she does, and to have Emma back in the team playing great tennis, I feel like I’m in a very fortunate position.”