Emma Raducanu swept aside Canada’s Rebecca Marino in the first set before grinding her way through the second to put Great Britain 1-0 up against defending champions Canada in the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup.
Raducanu triumphed 6-0 7-5 in the opening rubber in Malaga on Sunday, winning 100 per cent of points on her first serve in a one-sided first set and also slamming eight forehand winners.
The 22-year-old had to show her battling qualities in a second set that lasted over an hour, fending off the seven break points a much-improved Marino carved out.
However, Raducanu broke the world No 103 in the 11th game and then closed out victory by holding serve in the next.
Britain will set up a semi-final against Slovakia on Tuesday if Katie Boulter defeats Leylah Fernandez in the second singles encounter.
Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson will team up if Boulter is beaten and a deciding doubles match is required.
Raducanu returned to action on Friday for the first time since damaging foot ligaments in September, beating Germany’s Jule Niemeier 6-4 6-4 in Britain’s first match at the Billie Jean King Cup, before Boulter booked the team’s spot in the last eight.
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