GB CAPTAIN KEOTHAVONG OFF TO FLYING START
JO KONTA praised Great Britain’s new Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong as a uniting force after the team made a winning start to their campaign in Estonia. Britain’s No 1 and Heather Watson claimed straightsets victories in their singles matches, with Laura Robson and Jocelyn Rae winning the doubles to complete a 3-0 trouncing of Portugal. GB face Latvia today and Turkey tomorrow as they bid to reach a World Group play-off in April. ‘Anne is doing a tremendous job of bringing us together as a team,’ said world No 10 Konta. ‘It’s always tricky because we spend most of the year travelling as individuals, so for her to do such a good job with us, it says a lot.’ It has been 24 years since Britain were last in the World Group but Keothavong stated that was the aim when she took over from Judy Murray last year. Konta, who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last month, adapted from the packed show courts of Melbourne to the humble Tallink tennis centre. She silenced 246th-ranked Michelle Larcher de Brito, who is known as one of the loudest grunters in the women’s game, by winning 6-2, 6-4. Earlier, Watson beat 19-year-old Ines Murta, ranked 546th, 6-1, 6-1 in just 57 minutes. Robson and Rae beat De Brito and Murta 6-2, 6-3 in the doubles. ‘It was brilliant,’ said Keothavong. ‘Heather got us off to a great start. She was the more experienced player so the pressure was on and she delivered. Jo was ever the professional and Laura and Joc teamed up for a fantastic doubles. The first day, a clean sweep, what more can I ask for?’ Latvia, led by world No 35 Jelena Ostapenko, will today provide a more thorough examination of Keothavong’s captaincy.
nMARIA SHARAPOVA has been given a wildcard to play at the Madrid Open starting on May 5 — less than two weeks after her 15-month doping ban expires.