Great Britain are heading to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen this September, thanks to a stellar doubles showing from Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage, who overcame the Netherlands in a thrilling 2-1 victory.
The deciding rubber saw Boulter and Burrage, playing together for only the second time, dominate Dutch duo Demi Schuurs and Suzan Lamens 6-2 6-2 on clay — a surface that had earlier proved tricky for the Brits.
It was a bold move from team captain Anne Keothavong to field Boulter and Burrage in place of the more established pairing of Olivia Nicholls and Harriet Dart. But the gamble paid off handsomely.
“We went out there and gave it our all,” Burrage said after the win. “We swung and that’s what we wanted to do. It was great to step on the court with Katie – good friends and good partners, I think.”
Boulter, who had suffered a straight-sets loss to Lamens earlier in the day, bounced back impressively to lead the charge in the doubles. She capped off the match with a jubilant celebration after Burrage sealed victory with an ace, before the pair embraced their opponents and sprinted over to their ecstatic team.
Team GB had initially taken the lead in the tie through debutant Sonay Kartal, who showcased grit and maturity in a three-set win over Eva Vedder. Kartal triumphed 6-4 4-6 6-1, overcoming a shaky second set marred by missed chances and a controversial umpiring decision.
After giving up a break lead and losing momentum in the second set — not helped by an incorrect overrule from umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore — Kartal regained composure to dominate the decider. Her heavy forehand became a key weapon, propelling her to five consecutive games to close out the match.
With Britain up 1-0, Boulter had the opportunity to clinch the tie in her singles match against Lamens. But the Dutch player, ranked 70 in the world and riding a 13-match unbeaten streak in the BJK Cup, proved a difficult opponent.
Lamens adapted better to the clay, sliding smoothly and forcing errors from Boulter with consistent pressure. Although Boulter showed glimpses of her usual power — particularly with a punishing forehand — unforced errors and inconsistent serving ultimately led to a 6-4 6-3 defeat.
“Katie, after the disappointment of her singles, responded remarkably well,” Keothavong told BBC Sport. “Every captain wants a Katie Boulter on their team. We knew doubles would be important this week — and I don’t think Katie has ever done so much doubles practice in her life.”
The doubles decider brought its own pressure, especially with Schuurs boasting an undefeated BJK Cup record stretching back to 2022. But the British pair approached it with confidence and aggression, targeting Schuurs’ serve and dictating play from the outset. Boulter fired up her forehand in key moments, and the duo racked up 26 winners to just 10 from the Dutch.
For Schuurs, it was a rare and emotional loss — the veteran left the court in tears as the Netherlands now face the play-offs to try and reach the 2026 qualifiers.
In contrast, Great Britain will join seven other nations at the Finals in China, set for 16-21 September. For a squad mixing experience and rising talent, the win in the Netherlands may mark a significant step forward.