Sports Training Village buzzing as GB give fans plenty to cheer on opening day of Fed Cup tennis at University of Bath
Thousands of sports fans have been flocking to the University of Bath today as the eagerly-awaited Fed Cup by BNP Paribas tennis event – the first to be staged in Great Britain for 26 years – got under way.
There was a buzzing atmosphere on the transformed indoor tennis courts at the Sports Training Village as eight nations played their opening matches in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I tie.
Great Britain gave the home fans on a packed 1,800-seater Centre Court plenty to cheer in the evening session as they recorded the only 3-0 win of the day against Slovenia.
Katie Boulter, in her first Fed Cup singles match, got the host nation off to a confident start as she beat Kaja Juvan 6-4 6-2 in the opening rubber.
It was much closer during an absorbing second rubber as Johanna Konta had to save three set points in a first-set tie-break against Dalila Jakupovic before eventually wrapping up a 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 victory.
With the win in the bag, Bristol’s Katie Swan – who used to train and compete in junior competitions at Team Bath Tennis – and debutant Harriet Dart provided a final flourish to the day as they beat Jakupovic and Juvan 6-2 6-2 in the doubles.
Serbia provided the first victory of the day as they overcame Georgia on Centre Court thanks to singles wins for Ivana Jorovic and Olga Danilovic. Georgia gained some consolation with a 6-3 7-5 win in the doubles.
An evenly-matched encounter on Court 1 saw Turkey’s Carla Buyukakcay edge out Ana Konjuh in three sets, then Croatia’s Donna Kevic – ranked 25 in the world – take the second rubber 7-6 6-3 against Pemra Ozgen to set up a decisive doubles match.
It was Croatia who eventually came out on top as Kevic and Jana Fett battled past Buyukakcay and Ozgen 6-4 6-4 to wrap up the overall victory.
The evening session on Court 1 was also decided by the doubles as Hungary’s Dalma Galfi and Reka-Luca Jani beat Despina Papamichail and Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-3 6-4 to secure a 2-1 win overall.
Greece provide the opposition to Great Britain on Day 2, while Hungary take on Slovenia in Pool A. The Pool B fixtures see Croatia face Georgia and Serbia meet Turkey.
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Want to play on the same courts as the Fed Cup stars? The indoor and outdoor courts at Team Bath Tennis are open to the public all year round – click here for more information.
