Anne Keothavong
BATH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Anne Keothavong, Great Britain Captain watches on during a training session at University of Bath on February 05, 2019 in Bath, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | Billie Jean King Cup 2021 Play-Offs | GB side selected to play Mexico behind closed doors

  • Heather Watson leads off a five-strong team to face Mexico at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton
  • By the numbers – how the British side stack up
LONDON, UK – The LTA confirm the squad that will represent Great Britain in the forthcoming Billie Jean King Cup against Mexico, at home.

 

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Home tie – like no other

After the rousing crowds that made themselves heard at both the University of Bath and the Copperbox, it will be a very different atmosphere in at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. The play-off against Mexico will take place behind closed doors,mdespte numerous options being considered for the tie, but current pandemic restrictions deemed the NTC as the best venue, behind closed doors with none of the fan support that was so welcome for rare home ties for the British women.

 

The Team

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In ranking order, the team are:

Captained by Anne Keothavong once more, she said, in a statement: “I’m pleased to be able to announce the squad for this tie and I’m really looking forward to everyone linking up again. Heather has shown great commitment to the team and the competition over the years and Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart have both shown their character in recent ties as well. Along with Katie Swan and Jodie Burrage we have a strong group of players who I’m confident can do us proud. We all know the LTA’s National Tennis Centre very well and we’re looking forward to a competitive tie in familiar surroundings, and hopefully we can advance to the 2022 Finals.”

If Great Britain are victorious against Mexico, they will advance to a one-match home or away Qualifier next February to join the 12 best countries in the April 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Four of the team – Dart, Boulter, Swan and Burrage – are part of the LTA’s Pro Scholarship Programme (PSP), which provides world class coaching, medical and financial support to young professional players aged 16-24 with the potential to reach the top 100 within five years.

 

By The Numbers

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35 Heather Watson has been a part of 35 GB Billie Jean King Cup squads (sixth best all-time amongst British women) and 2021 marks her 10th year being part of the competition. Her win/loss ratio is 21-10 (equal highest with Anne Keothavong) in singles and 8-3 in doubles.

 

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17 – Katie Swan made her debut in Israel in 2016 (aged 17, the youngest ever), posting a 2-1 singles win/loss ratio and 2-0 in doubles during that outing.

 

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5 – Katie Boulter made her debut in 2018 and has a singles win ratio of 5-1 and doubles win/loss ratio of 2-0. She was instrumental in Great Britain’s Fed Cup World Group II victory over Kazakhstan at the Copper Box Arena in 2019, clinching the tie with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 win over Zarina Diyas.

 

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4 – Harriet Dart has been selected for her fourth GB Billie Jean King Cup team, and was the 52nd player to represent GB in the competition since its inception in 1963. Dart impressed in Great Britain’s Fed Cup Qualifier defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava last year and has a total win/loss ratio of 2-2.

 

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1 – Jodie Burrage has been selected for the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time.

 

When does it take place?

Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier against Mexico starts at 14:00 BST on Friday 16 April, and concludes starting from 12:00 on Saturday 17 April.

 

Matches can be viewed on the LTA’s Facebook site.

 

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