Watson ready to represent GB in Spain

Thursday 07 November 2024

Heather Watson and her Great Britain teammates are in the final stages of preparation for the Billie Jean Cup finals next week.

She has overcome a calf injury and will be part of the team that will play Germany on Friday 15 November (4pm) at the competition in Malaga.

Also in that squad are Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, Harriet Dart, and Olivia Nichols.

Watson is an experienced campaigner in the team environment and is largely expected to bring her doubles skills to the table.

The finals see 12 nations competing for the title, they include USA and defending champions Canada.

World number 2 Iga Swiatek will lead Poland.

Having beaten France to make the finals, GB are among the unseeded nations that face each other for a place in the quarters against one of the seeds of Canada, Australia, Czech Republic, and Italy.

If they beat Germany, they would play Canada on 17 November at the Martin Carpena Arena, an indoor hard court.

Each tie features two singles matches followed by a doubles.

Australia
Ajla Tomljanovic
Olivia Gadecki
Daria Saville
Ellen Perez
Captain: Samantha Stosur

Canada
Leylah Fernandez
Rebecca Marino
Marina Stakusic
Gabriela Dabrowski
Captain: Heidi El Tabakh

Czech Republic
Karolina Muchova
Linda Noskova
Katerina Siniakova
Marie Bouzkova
Captain: Petr Pala

Great Britain
Katie Boulter
Emma Raducanu
Harriet Dart
Heather Watson
Olivia Nicholls
Captain: Anne Keothavong

Germany
Jule Niemeier
Tatjana Maria
Laura Siegemund
Eva Lys
Captain: Rainer Schüttler

Italy
Jasmine Paolini
Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Lucia Bronzetti
Sara Errani
Martina Trevisan
Captain: Tathiana Garbin

Japan
Moyuka Uchijima
Ena Shibahara
Nao Hibino
Eri Hozumi
Shuko Aoyama
Captain: Ai Sugiyama

Poland
Iga Swiatek
Magdalena Fręch
Magda Linette
Maja Chwalinska
Katarzyna Kawa
Captain: Dawid Celt

Romania
Jaqueline Adina Cristian
Ana Bogdan
Elena Gabriela Ruse
Alexia Anca Todoni
Monica Niculescu
Captain: Horia Tecau

Slovakia
Rebecca Sramkova
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Viktoria Hruncakova
Renata Jamrichova
Tereza Mihalikova
Captain: Matej Liptak

Spain
Paula Badosa
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Cristina Bucsa
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz
Sara Sorribes Tormo
Captain: Anabel Medina Garrigues

USA
Danielle Collins
Peyton Stearns
Ashlyn Krueger
Taylor Townsend
Caroline Dolehide
Captain: Lindsay Davenport