Katie Boulter’s three-hour defeat to Caroline Garcia leaves GB on the brink in Billie Jean King Cup

Sue Barker looked down approvingly from the VIP section, seeing Katie Boulter trade groundstrokes toe-to-toe with world No 5 Caroline Garcia.

Invited as a special guest to Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup playoff tie against France yesterday, the retired queen of Wimbledon’s microphone must have been as baffled as anyone about how Boulter could be ranked as low as 154 in the world.

There was only a sliver of difference between her and France’s top player, who was pushed to the extremes before finally winning their opening rubber 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in three hours and 26 minutes.

The match was followed by a presentation to Barker, a player for GB when this competition was known as the Fed Cup, who plans to watch Wimbledon at her leisure this year rather than anchor the BBC’s coverage.

By then GB were 1-0 down, and they ended 2-0 behind with three rubbers left to play this afternoon. Harriet Dart was last night beaten 7-6, 7-6 by Alize Cornet, and it will take a huge turnaround in the reverse singles for the home side to make it through this tie for November’s finals week.

Sue Barker (centre) was recognised with a presentation during the Billie Jean King cup playoff

Harriet Dart’s straight-sets defeat to Alize Cornet leaves GB trailing France 2-0 in the playoff tie

It was much to Boulter and Dart’s credit that they made it so close against higher-ranked and more experienced opposition. A fraction more composure on the big points could have made it a very different story.

It remains a mystery how Boulter has never been ranked higher than 82 in the world. The 26-year-old from Leicestershire came desperately close to an upset yesterday, but in the end her lack of matches against high-class opposition was the difference.

Boulter said she produces her best on quicker surfaces and when she has a crowd behind her. ‘Some of the (other) conditions don’t suit me as well,’ she explained. ‘I have to go and play those matches and find different ways.

‘Sometimes my A game isn’t going to work. I have to be able to work on my B game and find ways through tough matches.’

Boulter got to 4-4 in the second tiebreak before losing it 7-4, and led 4-2 in the deciding set. In the deciding tiebreak Garcia’s serve and aggression got her home 7-2.

Dart and Cornet have struggled for wins this season and there was barely nothing between them. The French player looked exhausted compared to her more agile opponent, but edged through 7-3 in the second tiebreak.