Raducanu v Garcia | GB v France - Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier 2024

[Music] well hello and welcome to lortel Seaside venue in in the north of France they were pictures of uh the show draw which is the indoor venue where we are about to Stage the fifth meeting of a a fairly Titanic rivalry in women's tennis France against Great Britain just 12 months on from an extraordinary meeting between them in centry which went the way of France 3-1 in the end it is another chance to make a little bit of history and make it through to the finals in Seville later this year here Great Britain team captain and kyur wrong there's Katy Balter who is going to play the first match of this tie she will take on Dion Parry of France in what promises March this aenue that's going to be a training camp facility for Paris 2024 for basketball and wheelchair basket ball there is Emma ranu and Fran Jones who was called into the squad late on Kiki movich leads out Dean parry and there is claraa Burell as well and carolene Garcia who played the most extraordinary match against Katy Bolter this time last year in centry it was the opening match of the tie and she won it in three sets they were all tie break sets in almost three and a half hours Julian Beno is their captain and we are almost ready for the national [Applause] anthems to be a few nerves no doubt about that plenty on the line with a place in the finals at stake in November as we go through the introductions and it's good to see emanu back in team GB colors after all the injury isues she had last year we'll see her later today she will face carolene Garcia Heather Watson and Harriet Dart of been Mainstays over the last few years ktie Bolter with a big smile on her face and there is an oavon ready to see all the preparations that she's put in place hopefully bear fruit this afternoon from a team GB perspective [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] well this venue has a capacity for about three and a half thousand people they're making their presence felt largely French fans of course although there are some British fans who've made the journey and there is the very successful captain and here's the answer [Music] [Applause] [Music] he [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] so the formalities have been included and now it's down to business these players know each other so well so it's been a lovely atmosphere in the buildup to this match and here is confirmation of the team GB lineup Katy Bolter as I say who will kick things off first of all today against Dion Perry they've met a couple of times before actually and on both occasions it's gone the way of Katy Balter but they haven't met on Clay before and that is a big differential because Parry has certainly built her ranking a career high ranking at the moment on this surface largely just the four team members no aliz cor this year she played last year and Dean Parry is in this lineup and claraa Burell because they are both at career high rankings they have had very very successful years and for tennis fans watching I don't need to remind you how good Caroline Garcia and Kiki movich are as a doubles combination twice they've won the French Open [Music] [Music] about [Music] well here comes Emma raducanu playing Billy Jean King Cup tennis for the first time in a couple of years the first time her body has allowed her to and an kovon needs the best tennis that the former US Open Champion can find right now to counter the threat of this young woman it will be a mighty one given the way that carolene Garcia has been playing in recent weeks the one thing I would say actually about both women is that the last time we saw Garcia was in Miami where she played quite beautifully and had a terrific run there all the way to the last eight winning a classic against Naomi oaka and finding a way past Coco go as well but her shoulder was an issue and there was definite soreness in her final match of her run in Miami when she bowed out in the end to Danielle Collins we didn't see Emma ranu in Miami because of a back issue unfortunately so the last time we saw her was in Indian Wales when she was taking it to Arena sabalenka the world number two in the third third round there very high quality encounter and I expect today's encounter to be a high quality one as well but Julian Beno must be on cloud n Cloud enough because of a magnific performance from Dean Parry in that Opening match and Garcia tasked with the challenge of following that and she's more than capable of so doing there is very little doubt about that the 11-time WTA Champion who's twice made the journey into the world's top five she has got [Music] game let you know when I'm not sure I'll just go and check them Mar myself any questions Emma would you like to call it it's head or tails Tail Circle oh watch it sorry sorry tail series Mariana valovich in charge of this one again apologies for the picture breakup from the north of France beautiful town of lortel not very far away from Cal and not a million miles from Paris about 170 180 mil or so and at the moment French thoughts very much on really cranking up the pressure on day one they're on the prow for another victory in the singles here which would set them up magnificently Great Britain need to get something going here Emma Raku will be well aware of that if nothing else they just want to get a game on the board because the French have won the last 12 of them the equivalent of two Bagel sets for deian Perry after Katy Bol won the first two games of the match it all turned very quickly so match two in France in the Billy Jean King Cup by gamebridge qualifiers for 2024 with a place in the finals in Seville the prize there will be 12 finalists one of them will come from this qualifier the question is which one well for ranu who's getting back to Fitness this year after both wrists had operations last year and Ankle surgery as well so it meant she was limited last year to just 10 matches in total she had a five wins five losses record last year she's exactly the same place this year with the 10 matches she's played already but there were some really encouraging performances I think first match of the year against Elina falina was an absolute classic sorry it was her second match in the round of 16 there for Radu in ockland and she already had found a really high level but the same is true of kolene Garcia who's been very open about the pressure that she feels on herself she puts on herself whenever she has success on the court and she's had plenty of success in terms of her WTA career but also Al with France as well she was part of that team that galloped to a memorable and historic Triumph in Australia when they'd started so well and then it all threatened to turn around at the hands of an ash bti and Sam stosa inspired Australia but Kiki movich and carolene Garcia won the decisive doubles to lift the trophy there and I wonder what anoong has been saying in the team room after that Opening match match which started well but didn't finish the same way from their perspective she's a very calm authoritative figure she won't have got super agitated there's will Herbert the physio talking to Jody bur and Ian Bates just behind will head of women's tennis at the D at the LTA Junior Benito will be thriving right now and who can blame him the way his team have started but this is important for both of them it'll be a slightly sleepless night for Great Britain if they can't get anything here it'll be a sleepless night for both of them if they do so confirmation of the chair umpire plenty on the line here for both talking about Garcia talking the open talking openly about the pressure she felt to back up a brilliant 2022 that win over radano when she absolutely bossed it with her serve and her first strike the forand at Wimbledon was eye-catching she went on to have a stellar enter that year WTA finals Champion that year but backing that up is always so difficult and she found that again last year [Music] am radano would have been an interested spectator for much of the tennis that Garcia played last year made a couple of finals in Monteray and in Leon but wasn't able to find the dazzling formula that had catapulted her back into the top five for radico it's been a frustrating few months hasn't it with rehab and Physio and then going through preseason again not sure how your body's going going to hold up but it's great to see her out there she says she really enjoys playing on Clay although she really is hugely inexperienced on this surface she would admit that but she did make an eye-catching run to the quarterfinals in stutgart a couple of years ago on the clay she will lean into that today I [Applause] think third installment of this particular head-to-head then carolene Garcia and Emma ranu France looking to build on a stellar start in [Applause] [Music] lortel first glimpse of a patn I think we're going to see a lot today loves the wide serve from the juice court and that first forand strike but adic CaRu was ready for it fabulous angle forand battle is going to be a key one today without a [Applause] [Applause] doubt she thought it was wide Ariana vich didn't agree when she's serving well she plays well that's the equation it's a pretty simple one served well again this year as Garcia oh is that just nibbled the line I think it has can see that little pile of clay it dug up and deposited on the line [Music] radani backhand down the line is always a sign that all is well in her game when it fires like that confident start from Garcia who was a Powerhouse for France last last year in this competition winning four of the five matches that she played she only lost one and that was to Jasmine palini in that French defeat to Italy in the finals in Seville in fact going further back she's won 12 of her last 15 Billy Jean King encounters that's how reliable she has been for Team France [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] all [Applause] and the [Music] oh that's a peach Garcia doesn't think so or no maybe she's changed her [Applause] mind that's why [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] home [Music] f oh that is [Applause] [Music] exceptional well the streak of French games ends at [Music] 13 and what a way to do it as well how good is [Music] that finding the most acute [Applause] tangle Pi up yeah Emma ranu is going to continue this conversation and I don't blame her the complaint is about the call interfering with the return and Kon not happy either [Applause] [Music] [Applause] saying we should play a Le and you can understand why [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Raku letting her frustration go in the best possible [Applause] way just mixing up that serve from the juice court she loves the wide one but she will throw in the tea serve just to keep her opponent on her toes she and Kiki movich were the heroins of that as it was Fed Cup win in Perth five years ago that win was earned after Garcia had been beaten love and love by Ash bti wonderful dep big ball striking from radicar [Music] that closes that door excellent start between these two shaping up to be the contest we hoped it would be which is a very good [Music] [Applause] one well just continuing that theme of her there Triumph actually in Perth 5 years ago that defeat against Bary on the double Bagel was so bruising for Garcia she didn't reappear for the return singles against Isa tomanovich Pauline poner was sent out instead which meant it was level when it came to the decisive rubber because as it was then match as it is now because Kiki movich had won her matches in the singles and that gave them the platform to win the doubles in straight sets and clinch the title [Applause] fast forward five years Garcia at the center of another French Tilt at lifting this trophy [Applause] [Music] [Applause] he [Applause] [Applause] did look just long [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] there so many key battles today the serve another one of them ranu doing a good job in the early stages finding plenty of them in terms of f serves and delivering behind them crucially she ripped the [Applause] return even though it just clipped the knit it didn't slow it down much first chance got [Applause] on [Applause] scuffling nicely with [Music] Garcia beat Tera Martina on her debut a couple of years ago in straight sets [Music] L Dem Marque VR in the follow-up singles check here 132 too good anything I'm living short has been pounced on [Applause] [Music] [Applause] what a point that is counter punching Supreme from [Applause] Garcia did so well to survive in it the back behind from radano was good but not quite good enough Garcia back in well look at the court position that return position from Garcia so aggressive she's uncompromising in that department that's how she plays her tennis she feels brings her success [Applause] Ru fighting a valiant rear guard action here clever return pinpoint accuracy down the line [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the longer this game goes on the more important it becomes you feel [Applause] [Music] [Music] is oh that's stunning from both of them world class [Applause] tennis R CaRu would not go away in the point Garcia wouldn't back off either Sumptuous slice Ric there again but eventually defense is breached oh hold on hold on we've seen that pattern of play just once or twice [Music] before my goodness this is some level and some battle already four break points saved so far by R Cary [Applause] some hold that she knows it SOA said Captain too [Music] that kind of resilience is just what the Great Britain team needed France enjoyed it as well bit less so in terms of the [Applause] outcome but it feels like British heels have been dug in on that Baseline after that hold of serve and [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] another patient point from radicar using the back behind very effectively today so far [Applause] she's serving so well isn't she [Applause] Garcia delivering mightily behind the first serve I think that's nine from 11 now she's won behind it second surf ble has been a different story that's just the second point she's won behind it two from five in that department for Garcia textbook stuff from Caroline Garcia continues to lead the way on serve but we are still on serve after a mighty hold from ranu it's 3-2 to France [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I make me [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] first five games have been a real tussle between these two Rico just needing to find a bit more behind that first serve only one eight from 14 behind it [Applause] [Music] once again the forehand leads the charge for France and Garcia able to move the ball around very effectively she really enjoys that crosscourt Exchange not always so Keen to change direction but she had time there to do that that was the key [Music] BR CaRu defending brilliantly on her Baseline so far she's having to because of the length that Garcia is finding [Applause] [Music] 1 [Music] she had a little time to really line that up I think she'll be a teeny bit frustrated she couldn't make it count there Radu pressure is there again from Garcia [Applause] keeps surviving these little examinations doesn't [Music] she Gracia has been able to find the short angle crosscourt on that forehand a lot to open things up next for second [Applause] wow that left a Scorch mark [Applause] it yeah [Music] [Applause] [Music] sent her the wrong way and sent her packing in that [Applause] point able to just hold on to that forehand long enough for ranu to make her move she was worried about the line ball it didn't go down the line it went back crosscourt brilliant from Garcia uncompromising tennis from France at the moment she is hitting all of her targets right now [Applause] the world number 23 has what she wanted she has the break it's been coming in all honesty fifth time of asking she gets the job [Applause] done and the cushion belongs to France again in a set [Applause] [Applause] [Music] took a bit of the pace off that serve Garcia might not want to do that again with the quality return she got Garcia survives that point she got a horrible bounce at the start of [Applause] it did well to hang about for as long as she did [Applause] forehand is firing for ranu such a key [Music] battle see Garcia just wasn't sure where ranu was going to go back Cross or down the line [Applause] clutch C [Applause] well she was a bit worried about the ball toask wasn't she and now you can see why first break point for Great Britain in this match [Applause] up up this is bubbling up nicely isn't it and that break Advantage didn't linger too long Great Britain back in this opening set France lead it [Music] 43 well even though the rankings tell you they're separated by quite the golf of course they are as radican who continues to make her way back to full health after her injury trials and tribulations last year she's got a free hit really in terms of building that ranking this year and she's showing everyone how good her level is again right here [Music] [Applause] [Music] Garcia has served absolutely [Music] beautifully but she will be aware that if that first serve points one level drops just a bit she might find herself in a spot of bother just because she's only won three from nine behind her second serve that's where the radican return has really Shone so far but she's under more pressure behind her first serve moment they're matching each other as a result [Applause] keep [Applause] unbelievable from Garcia from there under real pressure but on that favored forehand she found something special [Music] [Applause] [Music] Garcia has dealt so well with the body serve from ranu [Applause] today the world number 302 trying to take it out of that forehand Strike Zone by serving at Garcia but she's been fantastic in that Department today [Applause] just so much pressure on that raducanu forehand right now [Music] [Music] [Applause] she's got the break again a really confident response from [Applause] Garcia and the arm wrestle continues although this time Garcia can end the conversation in this opening set now I wonder how that arm is feeling the shoulder specifically that was the issue in Miami he's still a little bit of lingering tightness there she's been thumping down serves today bags off them for oh you've got to be kidding oh I think it's just been called out I don't think she realizes but the Lions official put his arm out [Music] oh maybe he changed his mind found another one peppering that line well she said Garcia in Miami after she'd beaten Naomi Asaka in two phenomenal sets she served 12 Aces Asaka served 16 that's how good the match was she said she felt she'd left her shoulder on the court almost home in this opening set finished In Style by carolene Garcia this French wave continues to roll over Great Britain at the moment Garcia taking the opener by six games to three in just over 3/4 of an [Applause] hour well that first set was fun and such a high level three breaks of serve in the set crucially two belonging to France and that was definitive in the end look what she's able to get behind her first serve Garcia that's the key 7 9% of first serve points won compared to 48% for raducanu it's a different story behind the second serve that Gap favors the British player but the first serve is dominating that is the key and look at the number of winners she's able to hit on that forehand behind it her backand has been eye-catching as well today it's had to be to match the quality coming from the Ruku backand [Applause] [Music] but so far so very good for France in lortel [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] heav [Applause] second service well there's delicacy along with the brute force that she has shown so far today [Applause] [Applause] k the [Applause] another Point illustrates how good Garcia has been today at getting ranu on the stretch she seems to have to play that forehand on the stretch so much at the moment [Applause] on [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh good reactions from ranu there had to make a very late adjustment because of the net cord [Music] fabulous just fabulous from Garcia for a player one occasions in the past has got nervous she's certainly not showing any nerves today Sumptuous forehand [Applause] [Music] no wonder the captain's enjoying it and Kong a little less so the momentum is all French and at the moment there is just no stopping Julian beno's team Garcia in the [Music] groove Emma ranu is going to have to dig deep here if she's to find anything to put the Brinks on this French team on day one in lortel five matches in the tie remember and also a reminder you can get all the information not just about the qualifiers the battle for a place in the finals in Seville later this year in November but also all the other matches going on in the Billy Jean King Cup this weekend record prize money on offer ch [Applause] [Music] scintillating return that was inch perfect [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yeah nicely done [Applause] on [Music] oh she's round another [Music] [Applause] [Applause] so calm under pressure and she's in her comfort zone when she's able to get on that [Applause] forehand again the shorter ball an open invitation accepted and then here's that [Applause] [Music] Four Aces today only dropped Four Points behind her first serve that's how good it's been [Applause] [Music] she survives an examination might be an important one at the start of this [Music] set because she's wriggled out of sight as far as rakan is concerned it's going to take a mighty Chase from here [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] keep [Applause] [Applause] put the first strike exactly where she wanted it [Music] oh wonderfully done done great pick up from R CaRu the platform in that point might have come into the net to finish that off was confident enough to do it from the back of the Court sweet finish from ranu to a really important hold I think just keeps her within touching distance of a rampant France at the [Music] [Applause] moment thank you will'll be reminding that it's just the one break of serve the trouble is the Garcia surve has been Exquisite [Applause] today and that's the problem finding a way through that first [Music] serve she's given a really good account of herself today so [Music] far Kon will already be starting to ponder things tomorrow the reverse singles is normally the tradition but she can change those nominations whenever she wants will she be tempted I wonder to ask Fran Jones to step up who's had such a wonderful season on the Clay Jones grew up playing on the clay in Barcelona from the age of nine she also made the biggest final of her career on that surface this year and she's won six ITF titles on the clay too [Music] so Jones hugely experienced in that regard not in a broader sense at this [Music] level oh yes nailed that down the line [Music] [Applause] oh she's found another that just threw itself onto the Baseline at the last possible [Music] minute just enough Top Spin and shape on that to bring it down in time clever serve [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] what oh nerves of Steel again from Garcia whenever she's been asked she has just found a little extra today [Applause] [Music] being bit just looking anxiously at that I think it did miss the line in truth head of women's tennis at the LTA there he is enjoying this fight from raducanu trying to clip the wings of Garcia what about that [Applause] return drilled it there's CLA curan as well nodding an approval represented great written with distinction in the [Applause] [Music] [Applause] doubles you have to hand it to Garcia but when the crisis moments have come she's found to serve like that [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] she's liking that [Music] return Garcia has been burnt by that forehand crosscourt return couple of times in this game [Applause] [Music] wow weak that forehand has suddenly dialed in and ranu and Great Britain are back in this set and a message has been sent and I think received [Applause] come up bit of a turnaround incoming [Music] here ran who's in the zone and suddenly the first little anxiety on the face of Beno Garcia Keen to assert herself [Applause] [Music] [Applause] it's been some fight back first Ser is really starting to deliver for ricu what a finish and what a turnaround three games on the spin for Emma raducanu and this second set is anything suddenly but straightforward for France now [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] h [Music] I [Applause] [Music] [Applause] well it's got complicated all of a sudden for Garcia serving at [Music] 23 and it's quality that like that that's making those warning lights flash a little bit for France and [Applause] [Applause] stunner and she's finding that backhand down the line more and more now [Music] out she's got her teeth into this contest well and truly in the former world number four looking a little rattled for the first time [Applause] my [Applause] word she's going to town on return now especially on the second serve how early has she taking that ball it's a purple patch for Emma raducanu in Great Britain right now and all of a sudden the mood has changed inside l in lortel in France because the tide has turned a little bit here to say the least four games in a row for Emma raducanu they've transformed this battle [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well the smiles in Team France specifically from Julian Beno have been replaced a little bit by agitation and an urgency to Comm Comm unicate his message Garcia in desperate need of something now and it hasn't been often you've needed to say that about anything French today so far they've been that good but now she like ktie Bolter before her in match one needing to put the brakes on some momentum here [Applause] [Music] [Applause] well looking back I think it was that key fifth game of the set when she broke again she's made that yes Ariana valovic signaling from the chair that she thought it was good ricano just wants to have a look at this [Applause] [Music] [Applause] well coming into this service game Raku hadon won 13 of the last 15 points yeah beautifully done plenty of space in the four Court to work with and she needs this having LED let's not forget to love at the start of this set that fourth game was the big one when Ruku broke back she hasn't looked back since then well a little reminder I think with that hold from Garcia to ranu to say hang on a second it's just the one break and she's right it is [Applause] and [Applause] well she wants to be Uber aggressive on the second surf return there but maybe the play was to be a little more patient in the point from Garcia and build it and see if radicar was nervous serving out this set which she still might be exhilarating again on the forehand from radican which has heated up rapidly in this set on [Applause] [Applause] oh inspired tennis great hands from Garcia [Music] [Applause] hang on a second well of course there was going to be a [Applause] reaction and it's another electrifying one from France potentially here let's see well you wondered if there was hesitation in the mind of radano as she reset for that second serve but again it's the impatience on return of Garcia that just proves decisive [Music] [Applause] [Music] well Garcia was hanging on in that point that's a bit of a let off she knows it shorter ball kept a little low in truth though on radicar In fairness [Applause] [Applause] absolutely nerveless stuff she knows how important this is that's why she's talking to herself trying to squeeze two more points out of this set consecutively she dealt with that venomous return so well [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Great Britain are back in in this match maybe in the tie who knows but all of a sudden it's the Union flag that's flying high and the trickle are not quite fluttering as high as it was exceptional set of tennis from radican from the point at which she went two games to love down in this set she began to find a little extra and won the next five games in a row and I think most importantly of all she's planted seeds of Doubt all over the court now for carolene Garcia key Department was the number of points that radican won behind that first serve that was uh such an uptick from the opening set did so well behind the backand and outmaneuvering Garcia on the backhand winners as well that was a big uptick from the opening set only nine unforced errors too compared to 23 that too has changed significantly [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] about [Applause] be [Music] [Music] [Applause] positive start to the set more of a spring in that French step again [Applause] [Music] [Applause] go [Music] the big change up in the second set was behind that first serve gcia just wasn't as effective behind it [Applause] [Music] [Applause] classic Garcia Point brings a smile to a French face and the comfortable serve volley finish will just calm things down in terms of the anxiety levels on that French bench because having had everything go their own way all of a sudden it isn't cannot overstate the importance of this final set here today [Music] not an over exaggeration to say that it could Define the contest the tie there aren't many who can tell the tale of coming from two love down on the scoreboard overall to win 3-2 certainly playing with Renewed Energy you feel and Verve here [Applause] [Music] oh my goodness feels like Raku has poked the bear here by taking that second set hasn't been allowed to win a point in this decider so far [Applause] to [Music] [Applause] wonderful [Applause] combination flat serve out wide and then the back in behind first strike she has served so [Applause] well since the chips were really down at the start of the second set really didn't serve badly in the opener Fran Jones enjoying the bucket hat [Music] [Applause] again the recovery is a huge one from radano who will not go away [Music] [Applause] [Music] h [Applause] yeah Ric just looking at that ball Mark again right on the baseline from Garcia living a little dangerously there [Applause] [Music] all [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] well she's done a great job of taking Garcia out of her Strike Zone and moving her around a lot more now as she must [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] yeah did look a little wide she's getting a bit more change out of that French back end as well tactically very astute from ranu so far today [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] she was waiting for that again the second serve is exploited [Music] beautifully I feel like she's roaming around the head of Garcia now on second serve return [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] wow well the Garcia racket was dropped to the ground there because she's got a fight on her hands now Emma ranu has made certain of that she's got the break in this final set and the 2-1 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] lead well now all of a sudden the ol have lost a little bit of their conviction as well along with Garcia that forehand was not its finest and she is now beginning to unravel a little bit emotionally you can understand it I think the bounce didn't do her any favors there and she was pretty disgusted with herself and I think the surface of the court because she's in a jam now and she knows it no reaction at all from ranu or anong calmness personified game faces on to deep in conversation here with angry Garcia who needs the crowd now and a little extra it must be said off the ground [Applause] Brave change of direction from Garcia it's going to need that [Applause] keep stunner and it all started with the aggressive return got the shorter ball from radik Cary and then absolutely pulverized the forehand [Applause] she played the drive Vol well with a little margin just to make certain at love 30 again the backhand down the line is the one that does the damage [Applause] forehand of Garcia is just not as reliable as it was that's why fingernails are being nibbled by the French fans [Applause] [Music] you can see the stress on the face of Garcia desperate to win this next Point not allowed [Applause] to she has served so much so much and so well Emma radicar Under Pressure t- serve in particular from the ad court has Sha [Applause] again Garcia going for too much on return second serve as well [Applause] inspired simply inspired from [Applause] Garcia changer worked a treat M you thought that was going cross [Applause] call was too good and a key moment she's produced [Applause] that I mean you know you've had a good serving day at the office when you're on the shoulder of Garcia for Aces I think that's six a piece now the moment comes and goes for Garcia and the hold belongs to ranu that might just be huge it's been a Relentless cranking of the pressure from two love in the second [Music] set she's only won two games Garcia since two of the last [Applause] nine in fact exhilarating return but the key was it was all about the controlled aggression that's been the difference on return between the two of them ever since Raku started her charge [Applause] impeccable [Applause] length desperately needs a hold desperately done it again that took a slice of the [Music] line it's that kind of returning that's brought her here Exquisite from Garcia though you have to say that EDG is back in front in that many battle overall she's lost nine of the last 11 games oh are you joking [Applause] she's been ruthless on second serve return ruthless [Applause] another break for Great Britain and Emma ranu in control now at 4-1 in this final set extraordinary fight back from [Music] her this has been incredible she's just just clicked into gear and found another level out there that Garcia just cannot live [Music] with and it was just at the point where you thought Great Britain were going to have a horrible day at the office today now it doesn't feel like that at all Garcia looks a little emotional at the moment there's nothing she can do at the moment out there because emu just isn't missing she's functioning at [Music] Optimum I wonder if the shoulder is affecting Garcia she was certainly flexing it a little bit at the end of the opening set but the erors have tumbled from her racket as the winners have flown past her from radicar can she hold her nerve that's the [Applause] question well that might just have answered [Music] it no doubt in her mind at all seriously good stuff the raised eyebrow from anal in admiration here went for the [Music] hatrick little reminder from Garcia hang on nothing's done and dusted yet [Music] [Applause] momentum in this sport is such a suffocating Force especially when it's against you [Applause] [Music] service level has been so so high [Music] [Applause] [Applause] too good far too good the return which pierced the Radu defenses it's always dangerous going with your second serve into that forehand and she's reminded Raku there of that and ranu reminds her who's [Applause] boss well she hasn't quite won yet not yet Emma she thought that was the handshake he was so dialed in maybe one more [Applause] game that was memories of the US Open that she finished with an ace of course it's not done yet [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] dialed back in again her forehand has gone toe-to-toe with Garcia's today and survive to tell the [Music] tale yeah I think that's worth a look you know I'm not sure oh it's just caught [Applause] sometimes it looks like a gap marianovich convincing rakano it's just skidded off the line as it's gone through [Applause] [Applause] [Music] Garcia doing a fabulous job of just hanging on that's all she can do right now ranu has games to play with here and the double break as well [Applause] [Music] but she's giving herself the chance the trouble she's got is that the ranu serve has also been magnificent since the opening set really making 82% of them in this set she's only dropped Five Points behind it and the return of Garcia hasn't been able to do it job she's such a good returner the French woman but the former world number 10 has been on another level since the start of the second set really while the first two [Music] games but we're not done yet she could find a break here and a hold then things would get really really interesting new balls though will help ranu a little serving for the match muscular point from Garcia [Applause] [Music] you [Applause] that's been a part of the jigsaw the way the forehand of Garcia has [Music] been in and out like trying to tune the radio on an Alpine PA sometimes it's there sometimes it's not ranu by contrast has been red hot and loud and clear [Applause] [Applause] than Garcia looked to be almost in silent prayer before that previous Point praying for a couple of second serves here gar cannot believe she's missed it Raku is grateful she did that ball was on its way now there are no margins for mistakes for France simply magnificent from Emma raducanu from a set and a breakdown she turns the tables on kolene Garcia in her own backyard in France and levels the tie in spectacular fashion that is a stunning day at the office that her Captain an Kong enjoyed very much and so did they a jawdropping display from the former world number 10 on a Surface she is not at all experienced on but my goodness it's Center message in so many ways team GB dancing to the own tune at the end of day one a day that ends with a win a piece in [Music] lortel well I think anyone doubting that Emma radani will return to her best level after all the injury problems that she's had I think might think twice about asking that question after that performance it was scintillating the serve was particularly eye-catching but the forehand winners look how close she is to Garcia that is Garcia's stock in trade the backand is so strong from raducanu but she just took it to the former world number four from a perilous position and did not shy away and to do that on indoor clay in France is some performance it must be said [Music] sparkling finish as well and that's how she went about this match when the chips were down it was swash buckling stuff and Garcia couldn't live with it and it's going to leave anong with some interesting choices tomorrow to make radican will be a shoe in of course you would think after that for the singles will she stick with ktie Bol or will she change things up that's one of the dilemas she'll wrestle with this [Music] evening Balter has good memories of her match up with Garcia last year in centry even though it ended in an agonizing defeat in three tiebreak sets Garcia will feel wounded after that no doubt but at teas up tomorrow spectacularly just a reminder you can see the social media platforms that you can keep up to date with all of the news from the Billy Jing King Cup this weekend by gamebridge including the group matches the world group matches going on around the globe this weekend as well as Nations fight for promotion and a chance to get in and amongst it with the qualifiers the Nations that lose in qualifiers this weekend will go into the playoffs That's How Great Britain made their way back to this stage beating Sweden last Autumn when the finals were taking place in Seville and Seville still very much in their sights after that performance and it was all going so well for France wasn't it three sets and two games into set to until ranu said not on my watch I think we're going to hear from her very shortly no doubt delighted with one of the biggest wins of her career well congratulations uh very solid performance you were down a set a break and you managed to find it within you to turn things around maybe you thought it was do or die so you just gave it all you had and and it it turned around and you leveled the time yeah 100% it's very difficult to play Caroline who who's been having such good runs such good seasons and I mean I was completely the underdog I think especially going out here in her house on clay and uh I definitely turned it around I think I I fought really hard I dug in and that was a really good test for myself cuz I hadn't had those level match is um very often I had only two I think against like top 10 players and uh I know Caroline obviously is top 10 is a top 10 player so I'm very pleased with uh my performance and I'm very very happy to bring this point home for the team and and go into tomorrow one0 let's talk real quick about a interesting moment in the match you're up 4-1 you served an Ace and you ran to the net with your celebrating the win but the match wasn't over how does that happen are you too dialed in is that why uh honestly I I did the same earlier in the match I think second game of the match I was going back like it was juice or something and I won the game and it was one all and I think sometimes I'm just super locked in that I don't I don't really get the score so uh I'm not sure what happened but it was quite embarrassing cuz uh all I was thinking honestly was if I lose this right now this I'm going to look like a right Muppet so I'm very happy that I managed to pull it through in the next game you look like anything but a muppet uh uh just last question um it's you're as you said you're playing away from home in front of a French crowd and despite that you you fed off the energy of the crowd even though it would they were against you uh or for C uh that's important yeah honestly I don't mind playing against the crowd so uh they can get as lot as they want today tomorrow whenever and I think that's the strength of mine uh but it was great to see so many Union Jacks out here great to hear the support of the bench But ultimately I think that it was was just down to myself and my my fight and my performance and uh yeah I'm very happy to have pull it back and uh giving giving the crowd something to cheer for tomorrow congratulations having a good night see you tomorrow thank you she will have a good night and so will GB after that it teas it up nicely for tomorrow don't miss it we won't we'll see you then [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]