Down a set to two doubles players of the highest quality in the deciding match of the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals, Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls found themselves facing by far the most difficult challenge of their careers. Still, at no point did they betray even a flicker of negative energy. They furiously strategised, they battled hard and they so nearly dragged themselves over the line.
In the end it was not enough. Despite their best efforts, Great Britain’s rousing, unlikely Billie Jean King Cup run came to an end in the semi-finals as Australia beat them 2-1 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow to reach the final for the second time in three editions.
