Emma Raducanu enjoys ‘memorable’ birthday stuck in hotel due to storms | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu said her 22nd birthday was “very memorable” despite being confined to her hotel because of the latest storms to hit Spain.

The start of the Billie Jean King Cup was delayed on Thursday because of flooding on the Costa del Sol.

Schools and businesses shut down and public transport was suspended during the heavy rain. No training sessions were allowed at the venue at the Palacio de Deportes in Malaga.

And the Great Britain team – who play their first-round match against Germany tomorrow (Friday) – were unable to leave their hotel. Team leader Heather Watson said: “We were non-stop partying! No, I’m joking!”

And Raducanu laughed: “I’m really grateful that my team, they made a really big effort yesterday to make me feel really special. There were birthday banners, cake, balloons.

“Yeah, it was really nice, considering the weather. We couldn’t really go out or do anything, but it’s just how it goes. Yeah, even though those were the conditions, I still had a great time. It was very memorable.

“Yeah, I really felt a lot of love and from my friends back home, as well. I got a lot of nice messages, which was really sweet.”

The Great Britain team held three practice sessions at the venue on Tuesday and their tie against Germany is the last of the first-round matches.

Watson added: “We actually did some yoga and some core sessions, and it’s kind of good sometimes to have a forced break and lots of team bonding and birthday celebrations, chocolate cake, just a little bit.

“But yeah, I think it was more concerning for the country seeing what they have been through recently, which is so tough, so it was scary, but I’m glad that it wasn’t too bad.”