Anna Smith and Jocelyn Rae double up once again for GB Federation Cup challenge
Team Bath-MCTA Tennis player Anna Smith and partner Jocelyn Rae will once again be Great Britain’s doubles pairing as the 2016 Federation Cup competition gets under way this week.
The partnership, who reached the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open last month, have won all three of their previous Federation Cup matches.
Great Britain, captained by Judy Murray, face three tough days of competition in Israel as they bid to gain promotion from Europe/Africa Zone Group I and a potential home tie in the next round.
They have been drawn in Pool B alongside Georgia and South Africa, with the round-robin matches taking place on Thursday and Friday respectively.
The winners of the group will then play-off against the top country in Pool D – featuring Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria and Latvia – to determine who will secure one of the two promotion places available.
Heather Watson is also in the British team but Australian Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta has had to pull out with an intestinal problem. She will be replaced by either Katie Swan or Freya Christie.
Smith is coached by Dave Sammel, Ian MacDonald and Bob Smith at the University of Bath Sports Training Village. Rae, from Nottingham, also does some of her training with Smith there.
British Tennis tweeted the above picture of the GB Federation Cup team, including Anna Smith and Jocelyn Rae, ahead of this week’s matches
