Two matches into Great Britain’s first appearance at home in the Billie Jean King Cup, frustration was growing. Both singles contests against Kazakhstan had ended in defeat, their chances of a deep run already fading.
For Olivia Nicholls and Alicia Barnett, though, merely being present was a win. While finding motivation in dead rubbers can be difficult, they stepped out on to the court determined to play their best and enjoy the moment. Not only did they win in straight sets, but their passion and vitality energised their teammates, who ended a difficult day smiling. It marked the first step towards an incredible recovery: on Thursday Britain demolished Spain to reach Saturday’s semi-finals.
