11 h. ago Great Britain’s gamble pays off but Billie Jean King Cup desperately needs change

The tournament needs reform and a clear-cut identity - but its hands are tied by a bloated calendar and high-profile absences

Economics

55 h. ago Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage doubles act sends Britain to BJK Cup Finals

Boulter and Burrage beat Dutch pair in decisive rubberSonay Kartal defeats Eva Vedder in singles in The HagueWith Great Britain’s presence at the Billie Jean King Cup this year hanging in the balance, their pivotal contest with the Netherlands tied at 1-1, Anne Keothavong made a dramatic call. Instead of the doubles specialist, Olivia Nicholls, present in The Hague precisely for these matches and with Harriet Dart positioned as the first-choice doubles team, the British captain chose to rely on the pure firepower provided by her singles players.It turned out to be a stroke of genius. Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage, both ranked outside the top 250 in doubles and with minimal experience together, produced an inspired performance to lead their team to victory with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Great Britain fight past Netherlands to secure Billie Jean King Cup final place

Captain Anne Keothavong made a late change to her pairing for the crucial final rubber.

Sport

3 d. ago Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal inspire Britain to BJK Cup win against Germany

Boulter defeated Tatjana Maria 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the HagueKartal earlier beat Jule Niemeier 6-4, 6-2 on Cup debutAn hour into her first national team assignment of the season, the forecast for Katie Boulter was grim. Down a set and a break against a cunning opponent, the British No 1 had been junkballed into oblivion and defeat drew near. Her recent difficult form and her lack of confidence in the surface beneath her feet was plain for all to see.From that uncomfortable position, Boulter showed her mental fortitude in full as she emerged with a strong 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Tatjana Maria to clinch a 2-1 win for Great Britain over Germany in their opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in the Hague. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Billie Jean King Cup: Great Britain defy Emma Raducanu absence to beat Germany in qualifying tie

Anne Keothavong's team now face a decisive clash with the Netherlands after wins for Katie Boulter and debutant Sonay Kartal

Politics

3 d. ago Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal lead Britain past Germany in Billie Jean King Cup

The winner of Saturday’s clash with the Netherlands will advance to September’s finals.

Politics

4 d. ago Great Britain out to show strength in depth at Billie Jean King Cup

Anne Keothavong is without Emma Raducanu but has plenty of talent on hand in effort to reach finals in ChinaFive months on from the heartbreak of Málaga, where they came so close to battling for the Billie Jean King Cup trophy before succumbing to Slovakia in a brutal semi-final, Great Britain will begin their pursuit of the sport’s flagship team competition as they face Germany on Friday and the Netherlands on Saturday in The Hague for a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.They will attempt to do so without Emma Raducanu, a key figure in the team’s recent success. Last year, Raducanu led them to the Finals in Málaga with two-high quality victories against France on clay. She ended 2024 5-0 in the competition. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Australia on brink of Billie Jean King Cup exit after defeat to Kazakhstan

Kim Birrell and Maya Joint lose singles in straight sets in Brisbane Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez win doubles in BJK Cup qualifying tieKazakhstan have placed Australia on the brink of Billie Jean King Cup elimination with a 2-1 victory in their qualifying tie in Brisbane.Big-hitting former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina out-gunned Kim Birrell to secure victory for Kazakhstan before the hosts picked up a precious point with success in the not-so-dead-rubber doubles. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Great Britain face new challenge at Billie Jean King Cup and must beware underdog threat

Injuries and absences have evened the playing field for this all-important qualifying tie, but Great Britain should still have the edge

Events

4 d. ago Is the Billie Jean King Cup on TV? How to watch Great Britain’s qualifiers this week

Great Britain are in action in the Netherlands this week with a spot in the Finals up for grabs

Politics

7 d. ago Billie Jean King immortalized in bronze with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Billie Jean King became the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the new sports entertainment category

Politics

1 week ago Emma Raducanu opts out of representing Great Britain as health update emerges

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team and will instead take on a training block following her impressive run at the Miami Open

Politics

1 week ago Emma Raducanu WITHDRAWS from Great Britain's squad for Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers to 'best look after her body' after hectic start to 2025

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of Great Britain's squad for next week's Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Netherlands.

Economics

1 week ago Emma Raducanu withdraws from GB Billie Jean King Cup squad to ‘look after body’

Raducanu reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open last week but required medical treatment in her quarter-final loss to Jessica Pegula

Economics

1 week ago Ashlyn Castro's stern reunion with Jude Bellingham's mum at Real Madrid match after 'side

Jude Bellingham's girlfriend Ashlyn Castro and his mum Denise were reunited in the stands for Tuesday's Spanish King's Cup semifinal draw between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.

Politics

1 week ago Britain goes bonkers for Dubai chocolate: Shoppers fight to be first in line for Lidl 'dupe' before causing chaos in aisles and 'arguing with staff'

Angelina Perello Javar, an influencer from west London , revealed she headed to her local Lidl at 7.30am only to find a queue outside.

Economics

2 w. ago Britain's second home ghost towns FIGHT BACK: Locals told to secretly REPORT rich neighbours greedily buying up houses as seaside villages wage war on out

EXCLUSIVE: From April 1, more than 150 councils across the country will increase the tax on second homes to 100 per cent - meaning bills could rise as much as £10,000 for the year.

Society

2 w. ago MATT GOODWIN: Just as an academic hounded out of her job wins victory for free speech, I fear Labour is planning to WRECK a new law that would protect heroes like her

Let's not kid ourselves - we've just seen a significant victory in the fight to ensure that free speech survives in Britain's universities.

Society

3 w. ago Nations League: Merino saves Spain in Netherlands, Germany roar back at Italy

Arsenal’s makeshift striker on target again in 2-2 drawGoretzka gives Germans the edge in quarter-finalSpain snatched a stoppage-time equaliser against the 10 men of the Netherlands to secure a 2-2 draw on Thursday that kept up a two-year unbeaten streak and gave the holders the advantage in their Nations League quarter-final tie.Substitute Mikel Merino, a makeshift striker at club level for Arsenal, proved his ability in front of goal for his country too with a close-range finish three minutes into added time. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago 'Britain's most tattooed man' shares one fight strangers always pick with him

'Britain's most tattooed man' is fed up of having the same argument every time he boards a bus – as strangers can't help but react to his bold body art. It wears thin after a while

Politics