GB lose Fed Cup promotion play-off
Great Britain’s hopes of earning promotion in the Fed Cup ended after Katie Swan and Heather Watson both lost against Belgium.
Swan, 16, was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Ysaline Bonaventure in the opening rubber of the best-of-three tie.
Watson, 23, then lost 6-4 3-6 6-4 to Alison van Uytvanck as Belgium took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Group 1 promotion play-off in Eilat, Israel.
The doubles match later will have no bearing on the overall outcome.
Judy Murray’s squad beat South Africa and Georgia this week to reach the Group 1 play-off.
Both British players were ranked lower than their opponents, with Swan the world number 524 and Bonaventure at 160, while Watson is 42 places below Van Uytvanck at 85 in the rankings.
GB were without world number 28 and Australian Open quarter-finalist Johanna Konta, who withdrew with illness, and Naomi Broady, whose family has a long-running dispute with the Lawn Tennis Association.
Former British number one Laura Robson was not considered as she is in the early stages of her latest comeback from wrist injuries.
| Fed Cup Format |
|---|
| Britain are in Europe/Africa Group 1 – a 14-team group divided into four pools that is played out once a year over a week. Two teams qualify for a World Group II play-off in April, two teams are relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group II. |
| World Group II is an eight-team division played out over home or away ties – GB have not played a home tie since 1993. |
The defeat against Belgium means GB miss out on a World Group II play-off in April, and the possibility of a first home tie for Britain’s women since 1993.
International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty says his organisation is reviewing the format of the Fed Cup.
He said: “The ITF and our Fed Cup committee are continuing to look at potential enhancements to the Fed Cup.
“The competition has benefited from the home-and-away knock-out format that has been so successful in the Davis Cup, and the ITF is looking at new formats that would allow a 16-team World Group, something that is favoured by many of our constituents.”