KATIE AND KONTA GET GB PARTY STARTED
AT 3-6 down in the opening tiebreak and with anxiety etched all over Jo Konta’s face, Great britain’s Fed Cup party in bath looked in danger of falling flat.
With leading doubles player Heather Watson absent through illness, there was the clear threat they might end up losing their opening group match in the premier women’s team competition.
In the nick of time, Konta found some assurance against Dalila Jakupovic and, after toughing out the tiebreak 9-7, she went on to win 7-6, 6-2 to seal the tie for Gb.
Earlier, Katie boulter had made an impressively composed debut to put Anne Keothavong’s side 1-0 up.
She defeated 18-year-old Kaja Juvan 6-4, 6-2 at a sold- out bath University Sports Centre, which saw 3,300 come through the doors on the opening day.
Had world No 39 Konta lost that first set, it could have turned into an embarrassing day against a weakened team from Slovenia who — with a population 30 times smaller than the UK — produce roughly the same number of elite tennis players (including the one we borrowed for a few years, Aljaz bedene).
Keothavong said of Watson: ‘I’d like to see her play a part in this team.
‘She’s been a pivotal part of this team for a number of years now. She was gutted not to be out there, but she needs to do what she has to do to get fit.’
Gb made it 3-0 when Harriet Dart and Katie Swan won the dead rubber final doubles last night.
Today they take on Greece, who look to be their toughest opponent in the four-team group stage.