• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tennis Panorama

Tennis News and Information, Tournament Coverage and Features

Tennis Panorama News

Tennis news and information, tournament coverage and features

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Staff
  • RSS
  • Features
  • Tournament Coverage
  • Social Media
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • pinterest
  • Podcast
    • ITunes
  • Tennis Panorama Archive 2008-2017
You are here: Home / Front Page News / Great Brtain’s Fed Cup Team Even at 1-1 After Day One Against Japan

Great Brtain’s Fed Cup Team Even at 1-1 After Day One Against Japan

April 21, 2018 by Tennis Panorama News

GB FED CUP TEAM LEVEL 1-1 AFTER DAY ONE AGAINST JAPAN

 

Johanna Konta

(April 21, 2018) The Great Britain Fed Cup Team are tied at 1-1 against hosts Japan after the opening day’s play at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II Play-Off at the Bourbon Beans Dome in Miki, Japan.  The winning nation will be promoted to the World Group II in 2019. Britain is looking to get back in the world group for the first time since 1993.

 

First on British No.2 Heather Watson ranked No. 77, fell 6-2, 6-3 to an in-form Japanese No.1 Naomi Osaka ranked No. 22 in the world.  Osaka was through in 77 minutes.

 

After the match Watson said, “I felt in the second set I had more rhythm and got a better read on the ball but Naomi was flawless. I was hoping for a few errors from her.  Every time I had a small chance she would hit an ace or a winner. Today she was just way too good.  She has improved a lot since I last played her. You can tell she’s confident at the moment as she hit a great shot every time when she was behind in a game.  My strategy was to get as many returns in play as possible. She hit a lot of aces today and there was nothing to do.  On this fast court it was hard to make her move more as the points were so quick.  The crowd was very fair and it was a great atmosphere to play in.

 

Then Johanna Konta, No. 23 in the world, proved too strong for Japan’s No.2 Kurumi Nara (WR-100), winning 6-4, 612 in one hour, 25 minutes.  A break of serve in the first game of each set was the deciding factor and despite Nara breaking back once from 0-3 to 2-3 in the second set, Konta was not to be denied.

Konta said, “I knew going in it was going to be tough. Kurumi used the inspiration from the crowd very well and overall she played at a very high level. I’m pleased to have come through that one and put us as 1-1 at the end of the day.  Tomorrow’s match will be a big challenge. My goal will be to compete hard and ask a lot of questions of Naomi. I’ve played her twice, know what to expect but tomorrow will be new match so I will focus on my performance and what I can control.”

 

Captain Anne Keothavong commented at the end of day one’s play, “Tomorrow will definitely be a case of who can produce the best on the day.  Osaka played some very strong tennis against Heather, who had a handful of chances. As Jo said, Nara brought a very high level to the court but Jo was just too strong on the big points and executed her game plan.  This is a competition that means a lot to us and we want to do really well. We have lost at this stage three times since 2012 so we will be very eager tomorrow.”

 

The order of play for the final day is as follows:

Sunday, April 22 (12pm local time start, 4am UK time)

Johanna Konta (GBR) v Naomi Osaka (JPN)

Heather Watson (GBR) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)

Anna Smith/Gabriella Taylor (GBR) v Miya Kato/Makoto Ninomiya (JPN)

* Substitutions from the first singles can be made one hour before play begins, then 10 minutes prior to the second singles and 15 minutes prior to the doubles. 

Share

Filed Under: Davis Cup/Fed Cup, Front Page News, tennis news Tagged With: Anne Keothavong, Fed Cup, Great Britain, Heather Watson, Japan, Johanna Konta, Naomi Osaka, tennis, tennis news

Primary Sidebar

Wimbledon

Search Tennis Panorama


Subscribe to Tennis Panorama via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new articles by email.

newsnow_f_ab

cheap tennis shoes from China on DHgate.com

planetbarkad

Tennis Panorama on Twitter @TennisNewsTPN

Tweets by @TennisNewsTPN

Interested in advertising on this site? Please fill out a contact form.

RSS ATP World Tour

  • Molcan On Vajda: 'It Is Amazing To Work With Him'
  • De Minaur Dishes On Grass Courts, Why He'd Like To Play McEnroe
  • Day 4 Preview: Nadal, Tsitsipas Return After Early Escapes
  • Murray Rues Missed Wimbledon Chance: 'Who Knows What Would Have Happened'
  • Koolhof/Skupski Make Quick Start At Wimbledon

RSS WTA Tour

RSS ESPN AP Tennis Headlines

  • Murray knocked out by Isner despite late fightback June 29, 2022
  • Djokovic rolls to 3rd round; No. 3 seed Ruud out June 29, 2022
  • Raducanu falls to Garcia in Wimbledon 2nd round June 29, 2022
  • Swiatek hosts charity event for Ukraine children June 29, 2022
  • Tan's doubles drop leaves partner 'very angry' June 29, 2022

More Tennis Sites

15-lovetennis (French website)

ATP World Tour

BBC Tennis

ESPN

Jon Wertheim Sports Illustrated

International Tennis Federation (ITF)

New York Times Tennis page

Tennis Atlantic

Tennis Channel

Tennis with an Accent

Tennis Identity
USA Today

Tennis TV

WTA

ZooTennis.com






Footer

Subscribe to Tennis Panorama via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this website and receive notifications of new posts by email.

June 2022
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May    

Categories

© by TennisPanorama 2014 and beyond
 

Loading Comments...