Neither Raducanu nor Boulter can point to huge experience on clay courts, particularly when compared with the French players who learn their craft on the red dirt.
However, both players, marshalled well by captain Anne Keothavong, showed the savvy and big-hitting needed to turn this tie around.
As she did against Garcia, Raducanu grew into the contest. She was broken early by Parry, fought back to parity and then faltered as she served to stay in the set.
The turning point came after the Briton went an early break up in the second. She withstood a long game of five deuces, saving one break point and keeping Parry and the vocal crowd at bay.
Raducanu’s forehand cranked up a notch and she took the ball early, stepping in to blast away return winners and set up a deciding set and, at 5-3 in the third, she strode out to serve for the match.
The first match point was brilliantly saved by a passing Parry winner, and the second missed on a Raducanu forehand, before a long backhand from the Briton swung the momentum back towards Parry.
Raducanu did well to stave off two break points at 5-5 and again to regroup for the tie-break, producing some of her best serves to secure victory.
As well as the satisfaction of her wins, Raducanu has also managed to stay fit and competitive for two matches in two days – a positive in a career that has been hit by injuries.
2024-04-13 17:37:27
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