British team secures a win against the Dutch squad in the Fed Cup ties – Tennis News
Britain’s Fed Cup squad has fought back into the contest after losing the opening rubber to triumph over the Dutch squad in the second Fed Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group match. Three matches were played on Thursday, featuring
the likes of Anne Keothavong, Elena Baltacha, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. Two singles matches were played whilst Watson and Robson teamed up to play the doubles encounter. After an initial blow, Keothavong loss in straight sets, Baltacha and the doubles
duo bounced back to win the tie.
It was a massive turnaround especially for the newly hired Fed Cup captain, Judy Murray; who successfully completed her second task of getting through the British team with a close triumph under their belt and now prepares
for a tougher contest against the Israeli squad. It is going to be a huge task for the British team to beat a highly talented and experienced Israeli team at their home soil but all the members in Team Britain are motivated and well prepared for this battle.
The composure and determination to fight back from behind against the Dutch team showed that they are out there to perform their best and are not going to be threatened by the statistics. Britain defeated the Portuguese squad
comprehensively in their first tie before inching a close win against the Dutch. They won all their matches against Portugal giving them enough confidence before moving in to their next target.
Keothavong played well in the match against the Dutch contestant, Bibiane Schoofs but wasn’t versatile enough to tackle her crafty game play and eventually lost the match in straight sets 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3. The pressure
was on Baltacha to squeeze a win and keep her team in the hunt of victory. She played brilliantly and bounced back a break down in the second set to oust her opponent, Michaella Krajicek, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Next task was up to the two booming British
starlets, Watson and Robson, who strained past their opponent’s in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6(7-5).
Judy Murray was ecstatic at the performance of her team especially their determination to fight from behind and stated, "I am absolutely delighted and very, very proud of them - it was a fantastic day. Today was a result
of all the work that the team have put in behind the scenes. All the analysis that Judy has been helping us with has helped enormously. As for the overall team win, well, what can I say? I'm so proud of our team. The girls all did brilliantly and we're just
so excited."
British team has a tough competition ahead but if they keep on playing well with the same determination they might be able to turn the tables on their Israeli rivals on Friday eve.
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