Team Bath Tennis star Alicia Barnett and partner Olivia Nicholls earned a deserved consolation win for Great Britain with another dazzling doubles performance on the Billie Jean King Cup international stage.
Britain’s hopes of progressing to the Finals later this year had been dashed by the time Barnett and Nicholls took to the Coventry Building Society Arena court as a strong France team won three hard-fought singles matches.
However, the doubles duo were determined to finish the tie on a high and did so in fantastic fashion, battling back from 8-2 down in the decisive third-set tie-break to beat world No.14 Kristina Mladenovic and Clara Burel 7-5 3-6 11-9.
Barnett, coached by Ian MacDonald at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, and Nicholls had also come from 5-3 down in the first set as they took their Billie Jean King Cup record to three wins from four rubbers.
Team Bath Tennis provides a pathway from a player’s first experience of tennis all the way to the professional game, as well as the chance to play recreationally year-round on indoor and outdoor courts. Visit teambath.com/tennis to find out more.
With thanks to the Team Bath Press Office
