Katie Boulter took to the baseline on Sunday evening for one of the most significant matches of her career, feeling the weight of expectation on her shoulders. Just a year ago, in a location not far from here, Leylah Fernandez had inspired her Canadian team to an extraordinary Billie Jean King Cup victory in Seville. Now, Boulter had to defeat the defending champion to keep her team's winning streak alive.

In this pivotal week of the most remarkable season of her career, Boulter once again delivered a stellar performance, defeating Fernandez 6-2, 6-4 to secure Great Britain's place in the BJK Cup semi-finals with a commanding 2-0 win over Canada. This triumph mirrored the excellent 2-0 quarter-final victory against Germany on Friday, where Emma Raducanu had set a high standard by securing the first point for Great Britain with a superb performance against Rebecca Marino, winning 6-0, 7-5.

"Emma makes it very easy to come out here and have a swing at it by starting 1-0 up," Boulter remarked. "Full credit to her for starting us off so well. I'm really proud of my performance today; I just wanted to come out here, challenge the defending champs, and hopefully get a big win. I'm really pleased with myself."

Raducanu's BJK Cup record now stands at an impressive 5-1, while Boulter's combined singles and doubles record is 14-4. Both players have consistently showcased their best tennis while representing their country, leading Great Britain to face Slovakia on Tuesday for a spot in the final. Earlier, Slovakia continued their unexpected run by defeating Australia 2-0.

"I'm in a fortunate position to captain an amazing group of people," said Anne Keothavong. "I really believe we've got a team that can win this competition. We're not there yet; we've still got work to do, but we can enjoy this moment."

Raducanu, fresh from a two-month injury layoff, entered the match against Marino with confidence. Her return of serve was particularly outstanding, and she dominated the match. During her recovery period, Raducanu had focused on refining her serve, which proved to be a significant advantage as Marino struggled to find her rhythm.

"I'm playing some really tough opponents and not to be underestimated by their rankings on these surfaces, because, I mean, both are very dangerous," Raducanu noted. "I was one point away from probably losing the second set and then being in a battle. So I'm really pleased with how I fought and how I'm faring up against these top girls."

The match between Boulter and Fernandez was always anticipated as the key contest of the tie. Boulter played exceptionally well, serving under pressure and dominating the baseline with her forehand. Fernandez, on the other hand, struggled with her serve throughout the match, often chasing her ball toss and double faulting on crucial points.

As Boulter neared victory, her nerves began to show. After failing to serve out the match, she squandered her first three match points. However, she drew on the confidence she had built throughout the year and managed to secure an unforgettable win.

"I feel like it has been building for some time now and I feel like it's finally coming out," she said. "We've got a great team, all the girls are great people and we've got great chemistry going on. I'm so proud of everyone."

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