Emma Raducanu made a triumphant return to action to put Great Britain within touching distance of the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals. The 22-year-old looked sharp on her comeback from her latest injury setback as she saw off the challenge of Germany’s Jule Niemeier and gave Britain a 1-0 lead in the tie at Malaga’s Palacios de Deportes.

Tennis fans had not seen Emma Raducanu in action since September 21. Raducanu sustained a foot injury in the Korea Open and eventually pulled out of every tournament in the Asian swing of the WTA schedule.

Raducanu defeated Jule Niemeier 6-4 6-4 after nearly two months out with a foot injury but it is Boulter who is the clear British number one and she completed the job in comprehensive fashion with a 6-1 6-2 trouncing of Laura Siegemund.