27/01/2010 - Fed Cup-tastic

You would have to have been hiding under a rock not to know that there is a certain tennis event going on at the moment. Yes, the Australian Open is reaching its climax, the culmination of a blisteringly bombastic two weeks of tennis.

But what to do when the tournament is done and dusted on Sunday? How to re-programme those body clocks and find something else to distract yourselves with while at work?

Well never fear, Fed Cup is here. Fed what I hear you say? The Federation Cup, the Davis Cup's somewhat poorer little sister, and wrongly so, for next week, AEGON Team GB travel to Lisbon, Portugal, to battle for promotion to the World Group II. That's a pretty big deal.

This week, the British team of Elena Baltacha, Katie O'Brien, Anne Keothavong, and Sarah Borwell, have been training tooth and nail to get themselves ship shape and Bristol fashion before flying off to Lisbon on Saturday, so I wandered along to have a look at how they are getting on.

The training week takes the form of a lot of hitting, with a break for lunch, discussion of tactics, drills, and of course, a bit of work in the gym. The first player I spot on the court is Katie O'Brien, fresh from her Aussie Open second round (and Ugg boots spending spree), and also raring to go after missing out on the FC last year.

Fed Cup is a curious beast. Extremely good players have been known to lose to lesser known players, so you never quite know how it is going to turn out. But Europe/Africa Zone Group I, in which our fair females compete, is an even more tricky kettle of fish. There are a massive 16 teams in total, who have to face off against each other in groups, and then battle for promotion, relegation, or second, third place and so on....basically, out of those 16 teams, only two go up. Brutal.

Last year, the team came heartbreakingly close to promotion, edged out by a ferocious (and a little mean) Polish team on only a matter of points. So this year, the British guns will be blazing to go one better.

'We've got the strongest team we could possibly have,' says Fed Cup captain Nigel Sears. 'I'm feeling pretty confident about next week. We just have to see how things pan out with the draw.'Ah yes, the draw. That will take place next Tuesday in Lisbon, so the team have to wait right up to the 11th hour to work out who exactly they are playing.

After the draw is the pre-event player's party...and you may remember me blogging about the fashion disasters that have graced the scenes of various Fed Cups across the ages. This year though, Team GB will be dressed to impress in Paul Costelloe's finest. I'm on tenterhooks to see how those dresses have turned out...

Forgotten about the Costelloe creations? Read more about them here ...

Fashion aside, when the draw is done, and the nations grouped, Team GB will play a different country in their group on each day (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) - two singles matches, and one doubles match. 'I can't wait to get out there,' says Anne, making her comeback after a tough knee injury. 'I've been training here for so long now, and really can't wait to get on that court.'

And the fiery Miss K looks in fine fettle, battering a ball about on the court.

Sorry about the fuzziness. I think my camera is due a trip to the cleaners.

The third member of the team is Bally, but I managed to miss photographing her, so here instead is ACE columnist Sarah Borwell, the British doubles No.1, who is making her second appearance on behalf of Team GB.

Here she is having lunch with a band of little mites taking part in a camp at the NTC. Looking up at her in awe no doubt.

'Amazingly, of all the places I've been, I've not been to Lisbon before,' says Sarah, 'so it will make a change from last year. It was freezing! But we're all really hoping to put in a good performance out there, and are feeling like we can go one better.'

Now, you might wonder why these players, who play an individual sport, care so much about a team event? The answer? Precisely because it's different. You only have to look at them all having lunch to see how much they enjoy it....

Liking that kit. Might have to beg, borrow, or steal some. Not that I would ever condone stealing. Never.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings for today. I'll be bringing you live coverage of the Fed Cup from Lisbon, as it happens, from next Tuesday, here. Do check it out. It's sure to be fall-off-the-seat type entertainment.

• Back to The ACE View