Keothavong 'delighted' to get Fed Cup nod
Former British No.1 set for February return…
Anne Keothavong’s long-awaited return from injury received a timely boost with her inclusion in the British Fed Cup team for the Europe/Africa Zone play-offs in February.
The 26-year-old, who damaged ligaments in her right knee during a doubles match in Stanford, California in July, had targeted the Lisbon round-robin event for her comeback and is thrilled to have proven her fitness to Fed Cup captain and the LTA’s head of women’s tennis, Nigel Sears.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be included in the AEGON GB Fed Cup Squad,” said Keothavong. “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.
“Fed Cup is one of the highlights in the year for and it always means a lot to play it. You’re not representing yourself, you are representing your country and it’s a competition you want to do well at.”
Sears, who has worked closely with the former British No.1 during her rehabilitation, added: “For Anne it is a magnificent effort in itself to have made selection after her major knee surgery in the summer.”
“I’m really pleased that Nigel has shown the belief in me,” added Keothavong. “He’s seen the rehab work and how hard I’ve been working. I’m glad that he’s seen that and put his faith in me.”
Keothavong, playing in her ninth Fed Cup, will be joined by British No.1 Elena Baltacha and No.2 Katie O’Brien and doubles specialist Sarah Borwell in Portugal as the team bids to make up for the heartbreak of missing out on a place in the World Group II in 2009.
Britain narrowly lost out on promotion after suffering defeat to Poland in a play-off, but enter next year’s competition with their strongest squad for some time.
Baltacha and O’Brien both broke into the world’s top 100 for the first time this season, with the Scot up to No.84 in the world, while O’Brien is only four places behind.
“This team is a reflection of the progress that the girls have made again this year,” added Sears. “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.”
For Keothavong, the call-up marks her return to competition since the injury and subsequent knee surgery.
“Fed Cup is going to be a big week for me in lots of ways,” said the Londoner. “I feel like I’ve spent the last five months since I got injured working towards it. As soon as I had the surgery and we looked at the time frame, getting back to play Fed Cup was always the goal.”
And should she be asked to play a full programme, Keothavong feels ready. “I’m playing singles point at the moment, I’m back running around without a knee brace and I even thought about playing in Australia.
“I feel ready to get back out there, though obviously at Fed Cup I won’t have the matches under my belt that the others will have got out in Australia. Indoor hardcourts are my best surface and it’s great that I’m coming back to my favourite surface.
“After Fed Cup my first tournaments back on the tour will be on indoor hardcourts, so it should set me up well for those. Whether I play or not, being part of Fed Cup team is a real honour and a privilege.”