'They're like my kids' - how team harmony is fuelling GB's BJK Cup run

BJK Cup semi-finals: Great Britain v Slovakia

Venue: Palacio de Deportes, Malaga Date: Tuesday, 19 November Time: 11:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app; travel unrecorded substance commentary connected the website and app; perceive to BBC Radio 5 Live for updates

When Emma Raducanu was discovering beingness arsenic a full-time subordinate connected the WTA Tour successful 2022, she described herself arsenic a "loner".

It raised questions astir whether integrating the 2021 US Open champion into the Great Britain squad situation mightiness beryllium difficult.

In a athletics wherever players run arsenic sole traders for the bulk of the year, switching from a mindset of pursuing idiosyncratic glory to achieving a communal extremity tin beryllium tricky.

But the mode that British skipper Anne Keothavong has managed to forge a enslaved betwixt her players - peculiarly starring brace Raducanu and Katie Boulter - has been the cardinal to the nation's tally to the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals.

On Tuesday, Britain look Slovakia arsenic they look to scope the last of the women's squad lawsuit for the archetypal clip since 1981.

"I cognize what's important for maine successful this competition, that the girls find a mode to gel and get on," said Keothavong.

"I cognize from my erstwhile acquisition arsenic a player, that wasn't ever the case."

Instilling a beardown camaraderie, and seeing her radical thriving arsenic a result, is simply a root of large restitution for Keothavong.

It comes from a idiosyncratic place. Keothavong's dependable wavered with emotion arsenic she recalled her narration with erstwhile British team-mate Elena Baltacha, who died of crab aged 30 successful 2014.

In the precocious 2000s and aboriginal 2010s, the brace competed for the presumption of British fig 1 and for a agelong clip did not spot eye-to-eye.

"I don't deliberation it's immoderate concealed we had our ups and downs, but towards the extremity we were beauteous tight," said Keothavong.

"We were capable arsenic adults, due to the fact that we were a spot older and much mature, to bespeak connected however we could person been better.

"When she passed away, you conscionable deliberation each of that was specified a waste. To walk truthful overmuch clip being aggravated with each different was wholly unnecessary."

The temper successful the British campy has been acold from tense during their clip successful Malaga.

When they could not permission their edifice connected Wednesday due to the fact that of dense rainfall and flash flooding successful the Andalusian city, spirits were kept precocious with games of spikeball and a yoga session.

The radical besides celebrated Raducanu's 22nd day together. Balloons and banners were hung extracurricular her chamber doorway successful the morning, followed by the presumption of a candlelit cocoa barroom successful the evening.

The camaraderie has besides been strengthened with what Raducanu describes arsenic a "few wrong jokes" moving done the camp.

"I don't deliberation determination is immoderate pressure. We're conscionable enjoying ourselves," said Boulter.

"I cognize they've got my back, truthful nary substance what happens, I'm conscionable going to spell retired and bash my best. I cognize they'll enactment me."

While Raducanu and Boulter person been starring from the front, Keothavong stresses her squad is much than conscionable a treble act.

Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls each enactment points connected the committee successful Britain's tally to the 2022 semi-finals and, though they person not yet been called upon successful Malaga, person already played cardinal roles.

Watson is described arsenic the "life and soul" of the group, with Nicholls besides down a batch of the "banter".

"Sometimes it's similar erstwhile I permission my children astatine home, what are they up to today? It's similar picking up other kids," said Keothavong.

Frivolity lone gets a squad truthful far, though. Having a Grand Slam champion similar Raducanu acceptable to enactment successful tandem with Boulter, a apical 25 player, has been a difference-maker.

Raducanu led Britain into the 12-nation knockout signifier by winning some her matches successful April's qualifier against France, Boulter providing the different constituent with 1 victory.

In Malaga, neither has dropped a acceptable successful the best-of-three wins implicit Germany and Canada.

"The much I play Billie Jean King Cup, the much I bask it, the much I consciousness similar the stakes are truthful precocious - but successful a truly relaxed and breathtaking way," said Raducanu, who had not played for 2 months due to the fact that of a ft wounded earlier this event.

Against Slovakia, Raducanu and Boulter volition again look lower-ranked opponents, meaning Britain are favourites to acceptable up a last against Italy oregon Poland connected Wednesday.

Even if they lose, it has been a credible tally fixed they were the 2nd lowest-ranked squad and the uncertainty implicit Raducanu's fitness.

"Being capable to skipper this squad is simply a immense privilege for me," said Keothavong. "But the occupation is acold from over."