Fed Cup 2019 World Group II Play-Off - Great Britain vs Kazakhstan- 20-21 April

brittak · Satellite level

Fed Cup 2019 World Group II Play-Off - Great Britain vs Kazakhstan- 20-21 April

PockyTastic · Futures level

Could barely watch due to nerves (and wanting to enjoy the weather) but so pleased for the whole team and that Katie got to erase memories of yesterday by sealing the victory.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yay, did tell folk before the event

So never in doubt. Err no, I agree with comments after the first day that both reverse singles looked to an extent up for grabs so although pretty confident of the doubles ( particularly if it was indeed Heather & Harriet ) that would have been no good if we were 1-3. And I didn't like that "sticky" court.

Indeed some warrior performances as some were to get here in the first place.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Brilliant. So chuffed.

Looked like it would have been Jo and Heather for a deciding doubles as both came in at the end dressed ready to play.

Suspect Harriet will play the dead rubber in Jos place.

indiana · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
Brilliant. So chuffed.

Looked like it would have been Jo and Heather for a deciding doubles as both came in at the end dressed ready to play.

Suspect Harriet will play the dead rubber in Jos place.

Hmm I slightly feared that might be the plan with Mr "you should always play your best singles player in the doubles" Bates around.

Not that Jo is too bad a doubles player at all, if far from a natural, so not saying it wouldn't have worked here. But it did seem a strange mantra when I read of what Bates had been heard to say. And personally here I would have gone for Heather & Harriet in a decider if maybe a fairly close call.

But hey it doesn't matter biggrin

indiana · Tennis legend

Status Quo wrote:
Absolute warriors.
Proud.

WG II after so, so long!

... or whatever the ITF has on offer next year.

Talk of a Fed Cup finals of 12 nations in April next year. Not sure what the plan is to get to these 12 if indeed there is any plan as yet.

Would very happily take things to remain as they are for now ( if maybe not perfect, as for instance I'd prefer a 16 team World Group ) and we get to play that World Group II tie in the home or away format. Even if maybe as a qualification for 12 nation finals?

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

So pleased for Katie to come through that one :D
Well done Team GB after all those near misses :D
Fingers crossed we don't get hard done by in the re-jig...

Grachka · County player

Awesome! biggrin

hoots · Intermediate Club Player

indiana wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Brilliant. So chuffed.

Looked like it would have been Jo and Heather for a deciding doubles as both came in at the end dressed ready to play.

Suspect Harriet will play the dead rubber in Jos place.
Hmm I slightly feared that might be the plan with Mr "you should always play your best singles player in the doubles" Bates around.
Not that Jo is too bad a doubles player at all, if far from a natural, so not saying it wouldn't have worked here. But it did seem a strange mantra when I read of what Bates had been heard to say. And personally here I would have gone for Heather & Harriet in a decider if maybe a fairly close call.
But hey it doesn't matter

The times I've seen Bates at Didsbury,he's looked and acted like a pratt courtside. Your comment backs up that view.

Babfive · Satellite level

Fantastic to come home to a win from Katie and a British win overall. biggrin

hoots · Intermediate Club Player

And the Beeb yet again will not allow anybody to comment on GB's great victory!!

Michael D · All-time great

hoots wrote:
indiana wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Brilliant. So chuffed.

Looked like it would have been Jo and Heather for a deciding doubles as both came in at the end dressed ready to play.

Suspect Harriet will play the dead rubber in Jos place.
Hmm I slightly feared that might be the plan with Mr "you should always play your best singles player in the doubles" Bates around.
Not that Jo is too bad a doubles player at all, if far from a natural, so not saying it wouldn't have worked here. But it did seem a strange mantra when I read of what Bates had been heard to say. And personally here I would have gone for Heather & Harriet in a decider if maybe a fairly close call.
But hey it doesn't matter

The times I've seen Bates at Didsbury,he's looked and acted like a pratt courtside. Your comment backs up that view.

A wonderful result for sure after all these years.... But I must admit I don't like a competition where the team is of 5 players, but only 2 get to play in the first 4 matches. The doubles should indeed have been in the middle, and definitely Harriet and Heather to play, considering Harriet's doubles ranking is now higher than Jo's. One good reason for having the doubles ahead of the singles, there would be much less inclination to shove in your best singles player instead, with that match still to come.

I have been travelling, so unable to watch much of the tie, but it all seemed an incredible atmosphere with the musical instruments and all, even if the court was sticky! Congrats to Annie K, Jo and Katie B, and the rest for their support.

Status Quo · Intermediate Club Player

SF to decide who plays Australia in the final is epic. Live 5th rubber all tied in the third Caro G & Kiki M battling against Simona & Niculescu.
Why do tennis authorities want to rid us of occasions like this?

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Status Quo wrote:
SF to decide who plays Australia in the final is epic. Live 5th rubber all tied in the third Caro G & Kiki M battling against Simona & Niculescu.
Why do tennis authorities want to rid us of occasions like this?

I'm currently watching on Bet365 and am enjoying it, but that's part of the problem. It's either sign up to yet another subscription (ITF) or watch on a limited quality stream. Like the Davis Cup, broadcasters (particularly in the UK) don't seem interested unless they involve GB.

The format is a bit weird as well, fine for those interested enough to join a tennis forum to understand, but all this playing off stuff and WGII playoffs is confusing for the occasional viewer. Plus outside of the semi's, it's pot luck as to who will show up. Take Andreescu out of the Canada side like today and they are left with someone ranked outside of the top 200 and a 15 year old as their main 2. Take Bertens out of Netherlands and it's your Hogemkamps and Schools and they went down 4-0 to a Osaka-less Japan.

Kerber, Sevastova, Osaka, Bencic, Pliskova, Kvitova, Mertens and Bertens are all due to play WTA events next week, probably a few more I've missed off, yet they didn't want to play Fed Cup for whatever reason and Latvia, Belgium and Netherlands have suffered because of it - will probably be able to add Switzerland to that in a few hours.

I loved today, the atmosphere and all involved and would certainly miss that if it does go, but we are quite lucky that Konta, possibly because of her roots, always seems to want to play. If she, like the others mentioned, decides to skip the next round, we'd struggle a fair bit.

I do quite like the idea of a one week event where, once decided, everyone will know what's what and if it is just a week long event, earlier in the season (April) at a set venue, then you'd think most of the stars would turn up, and hopefully there'd be an actual dedicated broadcaster for that.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Having been to Bath and Copper Box arena the event has given me a feeling of well being apart from Katie's defeat yesterday. It lived up to its build up. In the past they did have a 1 week Fed Cup. It was held in London in 1963,Eastbourne in June 1977 and Nottingham in July 1991. If you get a 1 week event it will probably finish up in the Far East. If Johanna Konta had stayed with her roots she might well be appearing in the Fed Cup final for Australia with Ashleigh Barty. Also I think Annie K was luck to have Jo in top form whereas Jo never approached such form with Judy Murray. There are other countries basically dependent on 1 player. i.ie. Australia with Ashleigh Barty and Rumania with Simona Halep.