By Ros Satar, in Bath
- GB beat Slovenia 3-0 in first Fed Cup home tie in 26 years
- Will face Greece on Thursday afternoon
BATH, UK β Team GB captain Anne Keothavong shared her thoughts on the first dayβs results as GB delivered a comprehensive win over Slovenia on day one of the Fed Cup Europe/Africa Group I event.
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Katie Boulter makes her mark
British No. 2 Katie Boulter made a successful singles debut as GB kicked off their Fed Cup campaign on home soil for the first time in 26 years.
READ MORE |Β Tennis | Fed Cup Group I | Boulter βrises to the occasionβ to give GB a lead
Team captain Anne Keothavong had nothing but praise for Boulter whose assured performance set Great Britain on their way.
She said: “I thought Katie Boulter was brilliant, Making her singles debut in front of a home crowd and getting the win β thatβs something special. Again, once she got through those games she managed to settle, and she was just a stronger player. She has improved so much over the past 12 months and I really believe 2019 will be a special year for her.”
Johanna Konta displays nerves of steel to hand GB a tie win over Slovenia
One of the most experienced members of the team had to keep her nerve as Johanna Konta battled through a tough first set before easing to another straight sets victory over Sloveniaβs Dalila Jakupovic.
READ MORE |Β Tennis | Fed Cup Group I | Konta keeps calm and caries on as she seals win for GB
Keothavong said: She did a great job to come through that first set, It wasnβt easy but Joβs the ultimate pro. Sheβs focused, sheβs been there, she knows how to do it. Someone like her you have to respect she knows what sheβs doing. Itβs important for me that I sit there not saying too much and allow my emotions to get the better of me and everything thatβs going on and she closed out the match really well. She came through strong in that second set.β
Keothavong was very much a stalwart of the Fed Cup team in her playing days, having also played alongside Konta and Watson, and so works on her approaches with the players to suit their needs.
She explained: βWe go through stuff like before the match and in the build-up as well we talk a lot about how, what each player wants from me, how they want me to behave and I try and adapt to each player. Some players like more feedback, more than others but there are key words, cue words that we use. Itβs sticking to that and Jo, she was pretty calm out there. She had fantastic support from the crowd, but she was in the zone and you just have to trust that she knows what sheβs doing and sheβs going to fight through.β
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Heather Watson still could have a role this week
One person missing from the bench and line-up for the first tie was Britainβs most experienced competitor on the team, Heather Watson. As one of the teamβs strongest doubles players, Watsonβs absence meant Harriet Dart made a winning debut, partnering up with Katie Swan, with the Bristol girl enjoying the home support.
Keothavong explained: βHeather hasnβt been well, so sheβs been back at the hotel recovering. Iβd like to see her play a part in this team. Sheβs been a pivotal part of this team for a number of years now and sheβs gutted not to be there supporting her team-mates on today, but she needs to do what she has to do to get fit. Maybe weβll see her.
βHeather and Jo have the experience. Theyβve been part of this Fed Cup for some time and they know what to do but we have options on the team. Harriet Dart is a very capable doubles player. Katie Boulter perhaps doesnβt play as much doubles as the others, but she is equally very good in the doubles court, and Jo is always ready to step in if needed.
“Weβve got Katie Swan, whoβs the youngest member of the team whoβs still learning, but weβve played, weβve practiced lots of different combos and there are options depending on the situation.Β Iβm hopeful. She was on the practice court with us yesterday, we thought she was getting better but it wasnβt the case. She just needs time to recover and get herself in the best shape possible.
“Sheβs still with us, sheβs still very much a part of this tie and I know sheβs gutted she wasnβt out there, able to support the rest of the team today. But sheβs desperate to play a part in this home tie, as are all the other girls, and Iβm sure sheβll be doing her absolute best to be fit.β
Great Britain will face Greece on Thursday, with play scheduled on Centre Court not before 4:30pm.
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