Great Britain are just two games away from a place in the quarter-finals. A wry smile from Laura Siegemund who looks rather dejected as she pushes another ball into the net. And here comes the frustration. She holds her head in her hands and mutters furiously to herself as she slams a strike wide to give Katie Boulter three more break points.

Italy became the first team to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals on Saturday as Jasmine Paolini won in singles and doubles to claim a 2-1 victory over Japan.

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.

Emma Raducanu makes a winning return from injury before Katie Boulter secures Great Britain's place in the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals.

Ashlyn Krueger and Taylor Townsend saved six match points but ultimately lost the decisive doubles match as the United States was defeated 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 by Slovakia and was eliminated 2-1 in the first round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals early Friday.

Iga Swiatek wrapped up a 2-0 victory for Poland over five-time champions Spain to seal their place in the last eight of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga. World number two Swiatek beat Spain's Paula Badosa 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 in the second singles match.