In a simple sport usually contested as a head-to-head duel the nuances of team tennis competitions often lend the format to unpredictability and surprises. Such drama unfolded freely on a cold afternoon in Prague as Great Britain fought admirably to push the Czech Republic all the way to an unlikely deciding fifth doubles rubber on clay in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers before finally succumbing 3-2.
“Right now I do feel really proud of all of the players and team effort that’s gone into this weekend,” said Great Britain’s captain, Anne Keothavong, afterwards. “The fact that it came down to the deciding rubber just shows how much guts and courage the players had.”
