Keothavong defends GB doubles pairing after loss

Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong defended her decision to send out Johanna Konta and Heather Watson for the decisive doubles tie after suffering Fed Cup despair in Miki.

Britain’s wait to play in the World Group will continue after they were beaten 3-2 by Japan in their promotion play-off – Konta and Watson losing the deciding doubles rubber to Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Anna Smith and debutant Gabi Taylor were the original nominations for the doubles but Keothavong replaced them with the more experienced pairing after Watson lost yesterday’s second singles match.

“We are gutted about the result. One day our opportunity will come,” Keothavong was quoted as saying on the BBC Sport website. “If you keep knocking on the door, it will eventually open. It wasn’t to be this year but who is to say it won’t be next year? I’m proud of the effort both Jo and Heather put into the singles and doubles. Despite the short turnaround time I have no doubts that was the right decision for them to play the doubles.”

Britain will compete again in Europe/africa Group I in February 2019, playing three matches against three nations in a neutral venue in an attempt to reach another play-off.

It was a desperately disappointing outcome for Britain, especially after Konta, pictured, put them 2-1 up with a superb 6-3, 6-3 victory against the in-form Naomi Osaka. Japan levelled the tie as Kurumi Nara beat Watson 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 to give the partisan home crowd their wish of a doubles decider.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal powered to a record 11th Rolex Monte-carlo Masters title with a straight-sets victory over Kei Nishikori.

The world No 1 recovered from going a break down early in the first set to win 6-3, 6-2 in 93 minutes and has now won 36 consecutive sets on clay, a run which stretches back to the first round of last year’s French Open.