Great Britain battle past Hungary to reach Saturday’s Fed Cup promotion play-off at University of Bath
Great Britain will play Serbia for a place in the World Group II stages when an outstanding week of international Fed Cup tennis concludes at the University of Bath Sports Training Village today.
The host nation secured their place in the promotion play-off, which is scheduled for 4.30pm, by overcoming Hungary on a dramatic Friday evening on Centre Court to secure top spot in Pool A.
Both Katie Boulter and Johanna Konta were taken to third-set tie-breaks before eventually edging out the only other nation that could have beaten them to the top spot.
Boulter beat Dalmi Galfi 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) before Konta secured GB’s place in the final with a 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-4) victory over Anna Bondar, much to the delight of another capacity crowd at Team Bath Tennis.
The earlier contest on Centre Court had gone the distance as Serbia and Croatia battled it out for top spot in Pool B.
Serbia drew first blood when Olga Danilovic came from behind to beat Jana Fett 2-6 6-2 7-6 (9-7) but Croatia levelled when Donna Vekic – the highest-ranked player in the competition at number 25 in the world – rallied from losing the first set to beat Aleksandra Krunic 1-6 7-5 6-1.
That meant the tie went to a doubles decider and it was Serbia who eventually came out on top, Danilovic and Krunic again coming from behind to beat Darija Jurak and Ana Konjuh 1-6 6-1 6-4.
Turkey beat Georgia 2-0 to finish third in Pool B, while Greece won 2-1 against Slovenia in Pool A.
The final day of play gets under way at 10am today. All tickets have now been sold.
The Sports Training Village is also hosting the second Pentathlon GB ranking competition of 2019 on Saturday, with potential Tokyo 2020 athletes looking to secure their place on the international circuit for the year ahead.
Click here to read more about a Super Saturday of sport at the University of Bath.
