Great Britain’s Fed Cup team return to action this weekend as they bid to reach the elite World Group for the first time in over quarter of a century.
The World Group II Play-Off against Kazakhstan will be staged at the Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, marking the first time the Fed Cup has ever been played in East London, as well as the first head-to-head between the two teams.
The team tasted victory on home soil not long ago, with the University of Bath playing host to the Europe/Africa Group I competition in February. Throughout the week, Great Britain displayed world-class tennis and successfully defeated Hunagary, Greece, Slovenia and Serbia without a dropping a singles rubber.
By triumphing in Bath, the team reached the World Group II Play-Offs for an impressive fifth time in eight years - and with home advatange on their side for the first time in this stage of the competition, they'll be hoping to go the distance.
Led by Captain Anne Keothavong, the team have been training at the Copper Box Arena all week, to get acclimatised to the court conditions, whilst taking time out to get stuck into local activites - from an LTA Serves Festival to sliding down the Orbit!
Who’s playing?
Great Britain
| Name |
Age |
WTA ranking |
Fed Cup debut |
Ties played |
| Johanna Konta |
27 |
46 |
2013 |
23 |
| Katie Boulter |
22 |
86 |
2018 |
6 |
| Heather Watson |
26 |
118 |
2011 |
31 |
| Harriet Dart |
22 |
134 |
2019 |
2 |
| Katie Swan |
20 |
173 |
2016 |
5 |
Kazakhstan
| Name |
Age |
WTA ranking |
Fed Cup debut |
Ties played |
| Yulia Putintseva |
24 |
38 |
2014 |
18 |
| Zarina Diyas |
25 |
107 |
2009 |
17 |
| Anna Danilina |
23 |
372 |
2019 |
3 |
| Galina Voskoboeva |
34 |
58 (doubles) |
2009 |
32 |
How will it work?
The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of women’s tennis. It offers players from around the world the chance to represent their country and, with more than 100 nations involved, is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport.
The Fed Cup is structured with an eight-nation World Group and an eight-nation World Group II. The remaining countries are then divided into three regional Zones depending on their location – Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe/Africa. Great Britain are currently in Europe/Africa Zone Group I, and are aiming to win a return to the World Group for the first time since 1993.
The winning team from the play-off match between Great Britain and Kazakhstan in April will earn promotion to the World Group II for 2020.
Where and when to watch
The tie will take place Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April, with two singles matches on Saturday starting from 13:30 and up to two singles matches and a doubles match on Sunday from 12:00 - subject to dead rubber policy.
Live coverage will start at 13:00 on Saturday and 11:30 on Sunday to preview the live action - catch it all on the LTA Facebook page or on BT Sport 2.
Coverage will be hosted by Clare Balding with commentary from former British No.1 players Annabel Croft and Laura Robson, and David Law.
Johanna Konta will kickstart Great Britain's campaign against Zarina Diyas, followed by Katie Boulter taking on Yulia Putintseva. Sunday will see the singles rubbers reversed, with Heather Watson and Harriet Dart named as the doubles team against Anna Danilina and Galina Voskoboeva.
For the latest news, results and behind-the-scenes content, head to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Fun facts
- GB Fed Cup Captain Anne Keothavong is a former British No.1 and world Top 50 player. She made her team debut in 2001 and went on to play up until 2013
- Prior to the Europe/Africa Group I competition in Bath two months ago, Great Britain’s last home tie was in May 1993 at Nottingham Tennis Centre. The team of Clare Wood, Monique Javer, Amanda Grunfeld and Julie Salmon defeated Luxembourg (3-0), Lithuania (3-0), Russia (3-0), Ukraine (3-0) and Turkey (3-0) to advance to the World Group
- Great Britain have qualified for the World Group II Play-Off five times in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019
- If the Brits triumph in the World Group II Play-Off this weekend, they would return to the World Group for the first time since 1993, whilst it would be a first for Kazakhstan
Venue guide: Copper Box Arena
- Where? Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
- Capacity? 7,500
- Built? 2011
- Surface? Indoor hard court
- First held a tie? The upcoming competition marks its first Fed Cup event
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