The Fed Cup is heading to east London for the first time, with Great Britain’s World Group II Play-Off tie set to take place at the Copper Box.
Britain, who will host Kazakhstan, are aiming to return to the World Group for the first time since 1993 and hosted their first tie in 26 years earlier this month.
Johanna Konta and Katie Boulter headed the charge, winning all four of their singles matches at the University of Bath to spearhead GB’s victories over Hungary, Greece, Slovenia and Serbia to progress into the next round.
And now they will head to the Copper Box at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in April, the venue for handball and modern pentathlon at London 2012.
“It’s very special to come back to my home borough of Hackney,” said captain Anne Keathevong.
“Having grown up and started playing tennis here, I never dreamt that one day I would be coming back and leading the British team in what is the World Cup of women’s team tennis.
“It just goes to show the power of sport and demonstrates to these young women what can be achieved if you work hard. Looking ahead to April, words can’t describe the sense of anticipation we are going to have playing our first World Group Play-Off at home, having played the last four away.
“Home support makes such a massive difference in sport and we saw the impact the GB fans had in getting the team over the line in Bath recently.
“For the fans, I’m hoping that seeing our players perform with all they have got will inspire the next generation of kids to get out there and get involved with tennis.”
The tie will mark only the fourth time that either a Fed Cup or Davis Cup match has been staged in the capital. Sportsbeat 2019