Keothavong named in Fed Cup team

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:57

The 26-year-old has been out of action since damaging knee ligaments during a doubles match in Stanford in July but had targeted the Fed Cup for her return.

Keothavong will be joined by Elena Baltacha, Katie O’Brien and doubles specialist Sarah Borwell in Portugal.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be included in the AEGON GB Fed Cup squad,” she said. “It’s a team event and one that is really important to me.

“To make my comeback from injury at the Fed Cup will be tough but hopefully we can perform well and move GB into the World Group.”

Captain Nigel Sears added: “For Anne it is a magnificent effort in itself to have made selection after her major knee surgery in the summer.”

Britain narrowly missed out on promotion to World Group II this year, losing to Poland in a play-off, but should stand a good chance in February.

Baltacha and O’Brien both finished the season ranked in the world’s top 100 for the first time, the former claiming the British number one position after climbing to 84th.

O’Brien is only four places behind, while Keothavong – who broke into the top 50 earlier this year – is currently 100th.

Sears added: “This team is a reflection of the progress that the girls have made again this year. We are going to Lisbon with our strongest team and I feel good about our chances of promotion. We came so close last year but I fully understand how tough this group is to get out of.”

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