After waiting 26 years for a home tie, Great Britain will have a second tie in two months as they face Kazakhstan in April’s World Group II Play-Offs. 

After hosting some Zone Group I Europe/Africa action in Bath and successfully qualifying for the World Group II Play-Offs, Great Britain have been handed another home tie.

The Brits will face Kazakhstan in April with the winners getting promoted to the second tier of women’s team tennis, a historic occasion for both nation.

This tie along with the other World Group II and World Group play-off ties will take place on Easter weekend between the 20th and 21st of April.

After finding out the news GB Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong said she is ready for a raucous atmosphere in April, “We saw the fantastic atmosphere home fans create and the role they play in lifting our players beyond their limits.”

There is strong rumour that the tie could be played at the Copper Box Arena in London although that will be confirmed next week.

Meanwhile the pick of the other ties sees a strong Russia team host Italy while either the Netherlands or Japan face relegation to Zone Group I.

Czechs Look To Bounce Back. 

In the World Group Play-Offs draw the Czech Republic were handed an easy home tie to Canada as they face unchartered territory in April.

The defending champions will play their first play-off tie since losing 3-2 to Romania in an exhilarating tie in Ostrava which was their first defeat on home soil for ten years.

While the other 2018 Fed Cup finalists USA will host Switzerland and Latvia host Germany in a historic tie for the hosts as they look to make the World Group for the first time in their history.

Here is the full World Group and World Group II Play-Offs draw with the ties taking place on the 20th/21st of April:

*Home teams are first

World Group Play-Offs

Czech Republic v Canada

USA v Switzerland

Latvia v Germany

Belgium v Spain

World Group II Play-Offs

Russia v Italy

Japan v Netherlands

Great Britain v Kazakhstan

Slovakia v Brazil

Aryna Sabalenka has guided Belarus into the semi-finals of the Fed Cup for only the second time in history following a dominant performance on the second day of her country’s tie against Germany.

Belarus had a 2-0 lead over Germany heading into the final day of the clash. World No.9 Sabalenka clinched the unassailable lead for Belarus after thrashing Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-1, after 79 minutes of play. Sabalenka blasted 19 winners past her German opponent and converted five out of nine break point opportunities. Giving her a perfect record in singles matches over the weekend. On Saturday Sabalenka dropped only three games in her opening match against Andrea Petkovic.

“I’m so happy and our team are so happy and it’s an unbelievable result to win 3-0 and to win two matches, it’s incredible,” Sabalenka told fedcup.com after the match.
“I know she’s a great player, she plays consistent tennis. She has a tricky game and it’s really tough to play against her, but I was watching her matches to see what she was doing on the court.”

30-year-old Siegemund, who was playing in only her third Fed Cup tie, admitted that she failed to capitalize on her chances she had in the match. Germany has now been relegated to the World Group play-offs. They will find out their opponents on Tuesday when the draw is made.

“I didn’t take my chances.” Said Siegemund. “I had a few, but at the moment she plays so aggressive and solid that it’s really hard. When you get chances you get them once and then you feel sometimes pressure that you have to do it now and you start to rush it a little bit, maybe. I think she’s just a very good player.”

The 4-0 victory for Belarus was secured in the women’s doubles. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka teamed up with Lidziya Marozava to defeat Mona Barthel and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-1, 0-6, 11-9.

“I feel really happy, obviously our tie was over before I stepped onto the court, which, in one way the stress is relieved, but I was really looking forward to playing my singles today.” Azarenka said afterwards.

Belarus will play either America or Australia in the next round of the competition. It is the second time they have reached the semi-final stage after 2017, when they finished runners-up.

Garcia guides France to glory

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In the Belgian city of Liege, Caroline Garcia clinched the crucial victory for France in their tie against Belgium. After coming through a tense three-set clash against Alison Van Uytvanck on Saturday, the world No.19 cruised past Elise Mertens. Garcia broke Mertens three times to win 6-2, 6-3. Rewarding France with their third win in the rubber.

“I’ve really enjoyed this weekend. I felt good on court – I had good preparation with my match yesterday, it gave me confidence, and in the warm up I was feeling good.” Said Garcia.
“I only had good stress today, so it was more enjoyable. And I played really well on the big points, made good choices of shots.”

There was some joy for Belgian fans in the women’s doubles, which completed the tie. Kirsten Flipkens and Ysaline Bonaventure defeated their French rivals 6-3, 3-6, 10-6. Putting the final score of the tie to 3-1 in France’s favour.

“The girls have been fantastic. I did not expect a score like that. I am really very happy and very proud of the way they played.” French team captain Julien Benneteau said during an interview with RMC TV.

France are two-time winners of the Fed Cup. They last won the competition back in 2003.

https://twitter.com/FedCup/status/1094617903922585603

Johanna Konta picked herself up off the floor – literally – to beat Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(1) 3-6 6-2 to seal a 2-0 victory for Great Britain over Serbia.

The Brit, 27, won the third set after an extraordinary moment between sets when she fell to the ground on the walkway leading to the court and looked very unwell.

For a time it seemed like she would not continue, and the BT sport commentators speculated about who would take part in the decisive doubles.

However, Konta returned and somehow managed to play good enough tennis to win the decider 6-2.

“I’m feeling pretty rubbish but it’s okay,” the British No.1 said in her on-court interview. “Honestly, the only thought I had was that if it was me out here then it would be another obstacle (for Krunic).”

“I had to make sure she had to win it. I had to understand my limitations quickly and try to bring the most out of myself with what I had.”

Johanna Konta (@BritishTennis on Twitter)

Konta continued, “I zoned in on looking at the ball which enabled me to strike it and place it where I wanted to.”

When the Brit went down a break early in the first set, it looked like she might have to mount another comeback and win in three sets.

However, she quickly put a stop to that kind of thinking by breaking back in game four and then trading blows with Krunic for the rest of a very even first set.

It concluded with four consecutive breaks of serve and a brilliant tie-break from Konta when she did everything right to win it 7-1.

The second set was closely-fought once again until the Brit visibly started to struggle from 3-3 onwards. She eventually lost it 6-3 and it soon became obvious that she was exhausted.

Boulter produces a classy display to beat Jorovic

Katie Boulter (@BritishTennis on Twitter)

Katie Boulter continued her perfect start to her Fed Cup career with an excellent performance to beat Ivana Jorovic 6-4 6-3.

The Brit, 22, played aggressively from the start as she sought to avoid another lengthy three-set encounter after competing in long matches on both of the last two days.

And her approach worked wonders as she stormed into a 3-0 lead courtesy of two breaks of Jorovic’s serve.

The Serb fought her way into it by getting one of the breaks back and then trading breaks with Boulter, but the Brit served well after that and wrapped up the set 6-4.

It was a closer contest for much of the second set and the scores were level after six games. But the World No.83 then found another gear and won the next three games – despite obvious fatigue – through a potent combination of big-hitting and determination to clinch victory.

“Oh my God, I’m close to tears right now,” Boulter said in her on-court interview. “It’s been a really long week.”

“I knew this match would be really tough. I grew up with Ivana so I knew she was a very good player and I was going to have to bring some of my best game out.”

The Brit continued, “It means everything and so much more (to win four matches for my team). I put everything on the court and so much heart. It means so much to me.”

“I spent a long time off the court (due to illness) and it made me realise how much I love the game. If you stick at something and do the best you can, I think literally anything is possible.”

Captain Anne Keothavong pays tribute to her stars and the fans

“It has been an unforgettable week,” Keothavong said in an on-court interview. “Everyone has made it so special for the team.”

“The guts, the courage by Jo and Katie today… Physically, if I could tell you what’s going on behind the scenes!”

“These girls are so strong. I don’t know what to say. I’m just so proud.”