SM
Real Madrid vs. Mallorca: 4 hrs 30 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Great Britain beat Kazakhstan to secure Fed Cup promotion

:Headline: Result: Great Britain beat Kazakhstan to secure Fed Cup promotion: ID:356922: from db_amp
Britain's victory at London's Copper Box earns them a place in World Group II.

Great Britain will play at Fed Cup's top table for the first time in 26 years after Johanna Konta and Katie Boulter both produced comebacks to secure a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan.

The play-off was tied at 1-1 overnight at London's Copper Box after Boulter was unable to take three match points in a heartbreaking defeat to Kazakh number one Yulia Putintseva on Saturday evening.

The visitors looked set to take a 2-1 lead when Putintseva led Konta by 4-1 and two breaks of serve in the deciding set of Sunday's first rubber, only for the British number one to win the last four games in a 4-6 6-2 7-5 victory.

It was Konta's 11th singles success in a row in the competition and meant victory for Boulter against Zarina Diyas would at last get Britain over a hurdle they have fallen at in four of the last seven years.

It had been in doubt whether the 22-year-old would even take to the court after she picked up an injury during Saturday's match, which a telltale hot water bottle revealed to be to her right hip and lower back area.

She was still using the hot water bottle during changes of ends but, with Heather Watson so out of form, captain Anne Keothavong clearly felt Boulter remained her best option.

That looked a questionable decision when she trailed by a set and a break to 107th-ranked Diyas but Boulter has proved herself quite the competitor in her fledgling career and she battled back to win 6-7 (1) 6-4 6-1.

Diyas had only lost one of 15 Fed Cup singles clashes prior to this weekend but she helped her opponent with a double fault on set point in the second set and Boulter seized the initiative in the decider, clinching victory on her third match point with an ace.

The victory currently secures Britain a place in World Group II, although the format of the competition for next season has not yet been decided.

Proposals for a 12-team finals in the mould of the revamped Davis Cup are reportedly at an advanced stage.

amp_article__356922 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-04-21 17:24:13:
html db last update - 2019-04-21 17:24:13 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .