England cripples Portugal in the Europe/Africa Group – Fed Cup 2012
Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong gave a winning start for Britain at the Fed Cup 2012 on Wednesday. Later that day, the experienced British duo of Laura Robson and Heather Watson trashed their opponents in straight sets as well and registered a 3-0 victory
over the Portugal team at this Europe/Africa Group C Round Robin Match.
“Today was fantastic,” said Judy Murray, the captain of the Britain’s team. “We had two convincing wins in the singles, straight set wins for Anne first of all and then for Bally, and then the younger girls who had a little bit of a sticky start in the doubles
came through very strongly so we didn’t drop a set and it was relatively straightforward. For me it was the perfect debut, but it’s only the first match.”
Both countries were facing each other for the third time and after earning this exceptional victory, Britain took lead in the head-to-head series by 2-1 against Portugal.
In the opening round, world number 88 Keothavong took down Maria Joao Koehler, ranked 194th in the WTA rankings, in straight sets. She smoothly held her serves and ultimately registered a 6-3, 6-4 success.
Next at the Municipal Tennis Club was the British number one, Baltacha, who crushed Michelle Larcher De Brito in straight sets. Baltacha, 57th in the WTA rankings, barely sweated to trash the 19-year-old youngster with a 6-2, 6-3 success.
In the third round match, the British tandem of 19-year-old Watson and 18-year-old Robson displayed spectacular co-ordination to crush their opponents, Koehler and De Brito, with a bagel. The high flying duo were trailing in the start of the opening set
but made a fitting reply as they manipulated a 7-5, 6-0 score line.
In the other match of pool C, Israel team lost their first singles match but overpowered the Dutch team after winning the next two matches.
World number 154, Bibiane Schoofs stomped over Julia Glushko, ranked 211th in the WTA rankings, with a 6-3, 7-5 success.
In the following match, the Israeli number one Shahar Peer lost the opening set against Michaella Krajicek. However, with the help from the home crowd, she rebounded and pulled out the equaliser with a 7-6(5) win. The match was standing on a knife edge but
the world number 37 Peer unveiled her true colours and cruised past the Dutch with a breadstick.
In the final match, Glushko and Peer teamed up to overpower the Dutch tandem of Krajicek and Schoofs in a three set thriller.
As a result, the Israeli team lowered the trail in the head-to-head series by 3-4 against Netherlands.
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