SPORT NEWS

Britain sweep Israel in Fed Cup

by Setanta Staff , 04 February 2012

Great Britain's women are through to the Fed Cup play-off and will play Austria after taking care of Israel on Friday.


Judy Murray has taken charge of team affairs and has overseen a dream start to her reign, as the Brits had already beaten Portugal and the Netherlands before inflicting a 3-0 defeat on the Israelis.

Anne Keothavong got the ball rolling with a comfortable 6-2 6-1 victory over Julia Glushkoin in Eilat, before Elena Baltacha saw off an ailing Shahar Peer 6-4 6-3, winning the last six games of the contest as her opponent was suffering with an injury.

Heather Watson and Laura Robson then teamed up to make it three doubles wins out of three for the week in the 'dead' rubber, hammering Glushko and Keren Shlomo 6-2 6-1 to keep up the momentum for the weekend match.

Murray was understandably delighted and feels it was a real team effort to set up the clash with Austria.

"The team showed some fantastic competitive spirit and have done tremendously well to get through as group winners," she said. "We were all delighted, and it definitely showed at the end of Bally's match when it all got very emotional.

"The way the matches have worked, everybody is feeling fresh and lively and we are very much looking forward to facing Austria." 

A win against the Austrians would see the Brits through to April's World Group II promotion play-offs, but they will face a tough task on Saturday with world number 48 Tamira Paszek and Patricia Mayr-Achleitner on the other side of the net.


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