Barnett’s winning Cup start
PAINSWICK’S Lissey Barnett made a winning start to the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Glasgow, as she and Olivia Nicholls produced a fine performance to defeat Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and world doubles number 12 Anna Danilina 7-5 6-3.
However, Great Britain were already 2-0 down after singles losses for Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart.
Barnett and Nicholls’ breakthrough season earned them a late call-up following Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal and they rated the victory the best of their career and will hope to follow that up in tomorrow’s (Thursday) tie with Spain.
Barnett, coached by Ian Macdonald at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, began the year at 184 in the WTA world rankings but has progressed to a career-high of 60.
She and Nicholls have reached a number of finals and won their first WTA 250 title in August at the Granby National Bank Championships in Canada, and made their first Grand Slam appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open, with Barnett reaching the mixed doubles quarter-finals.