Keothavong’s GB off to a flyer in Fed Cup

GREAT BRITAIN got off to a perfect start on the opening day of their Fed Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group I campaign with a 3-0 win over Portugal in Estonia.

Under new captain Anne Keothavong, the British squad is aiming to come through a round- robin phase which will also see ties against Latvia and Turkey in a bid to reach a play-off for a place in the World Group II.

Heather Watson, the British No 2, breezed through the opening rubber against Ines Murta, whose singles ranking is 546, to complete a 6-1, 6-1, victory in under an hour.

Johanna Konta, world No 10 and highest ranked player in the zonal group, then saw off Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-2, 6-4, which gave Great Britain, seeded third of the 14 nations competing in Tallinn, an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Laura Robson teamed up with Jocelyn Rae against Larcher de Brito and Murta for the doubles rubber, which Britain came through 6-2, 6-3.

Britain will play Latvia today before finishing the scheduled Pool C matches against Turkey tomorrow.

Should Keothavong’s squad secure top spot, they would then play-off against the winners from Pool B on Saturday for the chance to progress to the World Group II promotion play-off in April.

“It was brilliant,” Keothavong said. “Heather got us off to a great start, she was the more experienced player out there so the pressure was on her to perform and she delivered.

“The first day, a clean sweep, what more can I ask for?”