We’re Fed and buried
Same old faces yield same old agonising result for GB
British captain Anne Keothavong stood by her decision to pair Jo Konta and heather Watson for the deciding doubles rubber, despite the experienced duo slipping to defeat in the Fed Cup promotion playoff away to Japan.
For the fourth time in seven years the British women’s team failed to make it to the World Group level after going down yesterday 3-2 in Miki City before a partisan but well-behaved crowd.
Keothavong left her highest ranked doubles specialist, world No 48 Anna smith, on the bench, and opted to put Watson in with Konta against the home couple of Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya, who have had far more doubles play together this season.
the Japanese pair consequently held up better under pressure, and came through 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to condemn Great Britain to a dispiriting long journey home. in line with her general form of recent months Watson lost all three of her matches, while Konta was victorious in both her singles.
‘i’m proud of the effort both Jo and heather put in today in singles and doubles and despite the short (30-minute) turnaround time,’ said Keothavong. ‘i have no doubts that was the right decision for them to play the doubles.’
she also resisted the temptation to blood 20-year-old Gabi taylor, who has won a bounty of matches at it F level this season, instead of Watson in the reverse singles. Watson had three set points against lowerranked Kurumi Nara before going down 7-6, 6-4.
We will never know if taylor or smith would have made the difference after Konta had put GB 2-1 up with an outstanding 6-3, 6-3 win over Japanese No 1 Naomi Osaka.
it is understandable to go for the greater experience, but it did not pay off. And the underlying issue is that Britain produces the odd decent one- off player rather than having much depth of proven talent to choose from. there does appear to be a clutch of younger women emerging with top- 100 potential who signal a brighter future, but that will be of little immediate consolation. it has not helped, either, that GB constantly draw away ties in this competition, whose format is getting a long- overdue review. the high point of the weekend was undoubtedly the singles performances of Konta, who, after a distinctly mixed season, can head into the claycourt season deriving confidence from two excellent displays in solo combat.
Of far more certainty where the clay is concerned is that the circuit swing that concludes with the French Open will, on the men’s side, be dominated by rafael Nadal (left).
the spaniard, barely a month from his 32nd birthday, yesterday claimed his 11th Monte Carlo Open title by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2.
it was the 31st Masters title for Nadal, taking him one ahead of Novak Djokovic. he has now won 36 consecutive sets on his favourite surface and this was the fifth time he has won in Monaco without dropping a set.