GB must beat Ukraine to reach play-offs
GREAT BRITAIN'S hopes of reaching the Fed Cup Euro/Africa Group I play-offs hang by a thread.
They suffered an unexpected defeat to Turkey in Budapest yesterday after both Heather Watson and Johanna Konta were beaten in their singles rubbers.
Victory for Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith in the concluding doubles rubber has kept Team GB in with a chance of topping their group, but they will have to overcome leaders Ukraine today to progress.
Presuming Turkey whitewash Liechtenstein in the manner both GB and Ukraine have done so far, a 3-0 win for GB against Ukraine would guarantee a play-off spot while a 2-1 victory could still be enough, but place determination would go down to percentages of sets won against all other nations in the group.
The Sarnian was up against world No. 117 Cagla Buyukakcay, who had made a mockery of her ranking a day earlier by beating Ukraine's Elina Svitolina (WR26).
The Turkish player carried that form into her match with Watson and took the first set 6-2 before the British No. 1 fought back to take the second 6-3 and force a decider.
However, Buyukakcay came out on top by edging a tight third set 7-5 to seal her nation overall victory in the match.
More in today's Guernsey Press.
