Smith called up by Judy Murray to Federation Cup Team
Team Bath MCTA’s Anna Smith has been called up by Federation Cup Captain Judy Murray to play for Britain when the event takes place in Hungary next month.
The 26 year-old, who is coached by Ian MacDonald and Dave Sammel, was delighted to be selected.
After receiving a phone call from Murray with the big news she said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been selected. It’s a great honour to represent your country. I’m really looking forward to it”.
Smith will train in Bath until she travels to Budapest via a futures tournament in Sunderland. Her doubles partner Jocelyn Rae has also been called up and Rae will be training with Smith in Bath from next week onwards.
Originally from Surrey, Smith made the move to Bath in 2013. A year later she and Rae won the Aegon Challenger Trophy title in Nottingham and Smith moved up to the no.1 doubles ranking in the country
Britain are currently in Europe-Asia Group One in the BNP Paribas Federation Cup which is a women’s team trophy. There are currently 15 teams in this group and if Britain finished in the top two they would be promoted to the World Group.
Team Bath Director of Tennis Barry Scollo said: “It’s great news that Anna has been selected. She’s one of the top doubles experts in the country and I’m sure that’s why Judy wants her and Jocelyn as part of the team. Anna works really hard and deserves her call-up”.
Commenting on the selections, Judy Murray said: “Our goal as always is to get out of the Euro Africa Zone and into a play-off for World Group II. We are fielding our best two available singles players and a recognised and very promising doubles team.
“I believe this represents our best chance for success in a three rubber match format where we could end up playing four countries in four days.
“The current Fed Cup format only allows home and away ties for the 16 teams in the World Groups so we must get to that stage in order to be able to use the event to stimulate more interest in British women’s tennis.”
GB Team: Heather Watson, Johanna Konta, Jocelyn Rae, Anna Smith
For further information members of the media can contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518 or at press@matchtight.co.uk
