Katie Boulter issues Billie Jean King Cup rallying cry to Great Britain team-mates as they look to become world champion

Great Britain’s Katie Boulter has urged her team-mates to ‘leave everything out there’ as the Billie Jean King Cup starts with a double fault.

The tournament is a female tennis event where 12 nations compete in the chance for their country to become world champions.

The opening match on Wednesday afternoon between hosts Spain and Iga Swiatek’s, five-time Grand Slam winner, Poland was postponed due to the heavy rainfall with thousands evacuated from the area.

This comes only weeks after Valencia and other parts of the Spain were hit with fatal flooding which cost the lives of hundreds.

The rearranged date for this fixture is now on Friday, the same day Great Britian will kick off their bid to become world champions, for the first time, against Germany.

Boulter has enjoyed a successful season where she is now a career high ranking, won her third LTA title and represented Great Britian at her first Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old is returning to the BJK cup for the first time since 2022 and the first time ranked as the best female player in the country.

The Olympian boasts a prolific record whilst representing Great Britian with a 12-4 record over the single and double matches since 2018.

Katie Boulter ‘honoured and privileged’ to lead out Great Britain

Boulter is optimistic about the week ahead: ‘I enjoy leading this team, it’s an honour and a privilege.

‘We’ve got so much depth and there is a really good vibe too, which is very important.

‘Now it is just about finishing the season strong, being with the girls and leaving everything out there.’

To reach the competition, Great Britian oversaw France 3-1, in matches, to reach the finals after failing to do so only a year earlier.

Emma Raducanu, US Open 2021 winner, won the decisive match against Diane Parry 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 to guarantee their place in Spain for a chance to become world champions.

The players that will follow Boulter into battle are: Raducanu, Heather Watson, Harriet Dart and Olivia Nicholls.

By Jack Bunclark