GB’s Keothavong calls for calm

ANNE KEOTHAVONG has warned her players not to let the feisty behaviour of Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva distract them at this weekend’s Fed Cup promotion play-off.

Putintseva, ranked 38, is the greatest threat to the GB team’s hopes of returning to the elite World Group level of the women’s main team competition at London’s Copper Box.

Keothavong knows that Putintseva — renowned on tour for getting up opponent’s noses — will test her team’s composure.

‘We all know what she’s like,’ said the GB captain, 35. ‘ But the players are professional, they know what’s coming and it’s important they stay in their own bubble and don’t rise to her bait.

‘That’s what’s got her to where she is. She’s got tremendous character, a huge personality on the court. But we’ve got fantastic competitors in the team who are capable of dealing with her.

‘I played her, it didn’t go quite so well for me. The players on the team will be able to deal with anything that comes their way.’

Evidently their first meeting was not love at first sight, with a 15-year-old Putintseva prevailing.

‘I just remember that I beat Keothavong when I was very young,’ the 24-year-old said.

‘She was not very nice with me, she didn’t shake my hand and said that I was too loud, that I was screaming ‘Come on’ so loud.

‘She went to talk to the refs. I was really young and coming to the WTA tour level, so it was kind of funny she said I had a character. I am going to do my best anyway.’ TV: LIVE on BT Sport 3. Today (from 1.30pm): J Konta v Z Dyas, K Boulter v Y Putintseva. Tomorrow (from 11.30am): Konta v Putintseva, Boulter v Diyas, followed by doubles.