A SINGLES victory for Taunton’s Lucy Shuker was not enough to secure a gold medal for Great Britain at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup on Sunday.
The World No10, pictured below, gave Britain hope by coming from a set down to defeat Marjolein Buis 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the opening rubber.
But world No3 Aniek van Koot put the Netherlands back in the tie by winning 6-4, 6-1 against Jordanne Whiley to force the doubles match on Centre Court.
And the Dutch pair showed why they have dominated this event for the past 15 years, winning the doubles 6-4, 6-1 to clinch the gold yet again and leaving GB with their third silver medal in the women’s event.
The GB team at the event, which was held in Alphen in the Netherlands, was made up of Shuker, Whiley and Louise Hunt with team captain Kevin Simpson.
Britain reached the final for a second year running after making quick work of their semi-final against Germany, winning 2-0.
Shuker gave the team a 1-0 lead, defeating Bianca Osterer 6-2, 6-1, before Whiley put the tie beyond doubt with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Katharina Kruger.
Whiley said: “After winning the silver last year, we really wanted to get our hands on that gold medal and gave everything we could to overcome the Dutch and their home support.”
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