ACE brings you live coverage of the AEGON GB Fed Cup tie in Lisbon, Portugal.
GB lost 1-2 to the Netherlands in their battle for Fed Cup rannking points on the final day of play. Anne Keothavong defeated Chayenne Ewijk 7-6, 6-3, Katie O'Brien lost 5-7, 6-3, 4-6 to Arantxa Rus, and Sarah Borwell and O'Brien lost 2-6, 4-6 to Richel Hogenkamp and Nicole Thyssen.
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7pm Adios Amigos
And that concludes my coverage of the AEGON GB Fed Cup tie in Lisbon. It hasn't been the best of weeks, some highs and some lows, but then, that is life, and that is tennis. Gosh, I sound like Nietzsche.
The girls really have given it their best efforts out there, and although they couldn't end today on a high with a win over those pesky Dutch people, they did their very best. For me, the highlight of the week is undoubtedly the fist-pumping efforts of Borwell and Bally in yesterday's doubles....they had energy to rival the Bryan brothers.
"We came here with the intention to win the group and gain promotion, and we ended up finishing second in the group and of course without promotion, so from that perspective, it wasn't mission achieved," says Nigel. "In terms of the efforts that the girls put in, I think they all gave their very best. And we lost to a good team in Austria on the day. We'll just have to continue working at it and come back with an even stronger effort next year."
Quite right too. Here's to Fed Cup next year, more success for GB's women, and a safe journey home. It's been a pleasure keeping you updated, I hope you've enjoyed it, and see you again soon.
As ever, do write in and let me know what you think...letters@acetennismagazine.com, twitter or on our facebook page. Tchau for now.
5pm GB 4 Netherlands 6
Miss Thyssen will serve for the match, and I've got fingers, toes, and legs crossed that the Brits will break. They can do it. 15-0 - hmmm, maybe not. But then, ah ha, she misses the tram...15-15. A pelting forehand from Sarah, a sprint to the net, and the net grows as she tries to hit her volley winner.
A big serve from the big Thyssen, and the Neds have two match points. Two nets. I think she might be nervous. She is. She misses her backhand by a mile. One match point saved. Huge volley from Sarah..two match points saved. There's life in Team GB yet.
But Sarah just scoops her return long to give the Dutch a third match point. Katie's return misses the mark, and the Netherlands win. Ho hum.
KATIE O'BRIEN AND SARAH BORWELL LOSE 2-6, 4-6, TO NICOLE THYSSEN AND RICHEL HOGENKAMP...THE NETHERLANDS DEFEAT GB 2-1.
4.50pm GB 4 Netherlands 5
That was not what we needed. If the Tulip-lovers hold here, they'll be a game from the 'W'. There I go, stating the obvious again. But this is not how I want GB Fed Cup to end...if they could just break Hogenkamp's jammy little serve.
And oh, ho, they've got 0-30, and then 15-40... two break points! Hogenkamp is not at all happy, pratically doing a Serena as she waves her racket in the line judge's face, and then, I am shocked, hitting a ball at the stand very close to my direction. You don't want to go getting me angry, oh no.
I'm already angry. And dang and blast it all, the Dutch save both break points, because Thyssen, who in the nicest possible way is rather top-heavy (not what you need in tennis), makes a ridiculous volley. They hold.
Good girl Katie, she holds to love, which slightly lessens the blow, but not much. The Netherlands will serve for the match.
4.40pm GB 3 Netherlands 4
Doubles really is such an art. You forget, until you see it being played well. With Katie boshing from the back, and Sarah scampering around at the net, punching at this volley, ducking at that volley...closing off shots here, there, and everywhere. Not like yours truly who swings at her volleys like she's chopping wood, and is surprised when they fly out the back of the court.
Forgive my pontificating....Sarah and Katie play like worker bees on the Thyssen serve, and are rewarded with break point after break point after break point. But the Dutch keep hacking it back, and hold serve.
And it's just so unfair, because after that immense effort, Borwell finds herself facing two break points....she saves two, but can't squeak past a third. Netherlands break.
4.30pm GB 3 Netherlands 2
Hogenkamp serving, and she hasn't really been troubled yet. Still, she's 'c'mon'-ing to herself (like the 10&Us do at Junior Nationals), so perhaps she's not feeling as confident as she looks. Perhaps is right....it's deuce, and a chance for GB here. Or not. Ad the Dutch, and they hold, steady as windmills.
They are even wearing orange tops....cheeky sausages. Katie is 30-0 up on her serve, but the Dutch duo battle back to 30-30, and I'm afraid the rabble here are right behind them. Well played GB though, Sarah bops a smash to get game point, and they hold.
4.19pm GB 2 Netherlands 1
Best we brush that set under the carpet I think. So it's good to see Katie come out and hold serve bang, bang at the beginning of the second set. And then, how about this, GB have 15-40 and two break points on the Thyssen serve....it was some tip top volleying from Miss B and some fab back pedaling from Miss OB that did it.
Uh oh, deuce. But then another BP for GB . They charge the net, and take the break. Those clogs are going in the bin.
Sarah serving to cement the break, and my oh my, it's 0-30. How does this happen? A wide return later, it's 0-40....three break back points for the Dutch.....they miss the first, but take the second. The Dutch break back. I was just starting to feel cheerier.
4.05pm GB 2 Netherlands 6
Hogenkamp is serving for the set...can GB channel Harry Potter and work some magic here? Or if not Harry, perhaps Ron? At 30-0, perhaps not. But then Sarah makes two delightful volleys, the hands of Tim Henman, and it's 30-30. A big forehand from Katie gives GB 30-40, and a crucial break back point. Oh. And we seem to have a delay. Good serve volley combo from the Dutch, and they save it. No one's eating their tulips today.
Ad Netherlands, and it's their first set point. A forehand from Hogenkamp does the trick, and the Dutch take the first set 6-2. Deary me.
Behind me, the Portuguese must be starting. Either that, or the public have spontaneously decided to stomp on the seats at regular intervals.
4pm GB 2 Netherlands 5
A bit of a mountain for Team GB here, and although they get 15-30 on the Thyssen serve, she holds to give the Dutch a Jack and the Beanstalk 5-1 lead. Katie is serving to keep GB in this first set, and I would tell you what happens next, but I can't. Yet another troop of ball kids are completely obscuring my view. I'm not really embracing them, can you tell?
OB holds to stave off the set for the meantime though.
3.55pm GB 1 Netherlands 4
Now, we've met the Dutch duo before...GB destroyed them in Fed Cup last year, because Nicole Thyssen, one half of the pair, completely forgot how to serve. So much so that Captain Bollegraf took her back onto the court afterwards for a remedial lesson.
Sadly, there's little of that going on today. The other half of the pair, (finally we meet her) Richel Hogenkamp, holds, and the Neds have a 3-1 lead. And then, woe is me, Sarah is broken to 15. Huh.
3.45pm GB 1 Netherlands 2
The answer is....Katie! Not quite what I expected, but then surprises always happen...I know she'll give it her all.
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The British duo don't quite get a dream start though, Sarah dropping her serve, the Dutch pair holding. But Katie manages to hold. GB are a break down.
If that depresses you, Papa Borwell has given us some more reasons to beat the Dutch... David Borwell on Facebook: "Right come on girls a repeat of yesterday please. Some of the Arnhem spirit needed, Windmill serving, bridge that Dyke and send them home with their Tulips. Go T14 GB."
Which reminds me of "A mouse lived in a windmill...", one of my favourite songs as a wee lass. Oops. Perhaps shouldn't have revealed that one.
3.20pm Deciding doubles
That tough, tough loss for Katie means that it will come down to the doubles for the second day running...my oh my. But who will play? Will we see the return of Borwell and Baltacha? Or will it be Annie K and Sarah B? I'm not at all sure, and nor, as I hear her muttering, is Dutch captain Bollegraf.
Sarah gets out there to warm up pretty pronto though...
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That's Damo in red, and Louis at the net. And Sarah, obv.
2.58pm Netherlands 6 GB 4
The thing about tennis, and this may be obvious as black and white, so forgive me, is that you don't get a break until you've won, or lost. So despite Katie battling back again and again, she's got to do it again. Serving to stay in the match for the umpteenth time, OB suddenly finds herself 0-40 and three match points down against a fire-breathing Dutch girl.
She saves one, yes. She saves two, yes!. She nets the third....what a killer.
KATIE O'BRIEN LOSES 5-7, 6-3, 4-6 TO ARANTXA RUS, LEAVING GB AND THE NETHERLANDS TIED AT 1-1. THE DOUBLES WILL DECIDE THE MATCH.
2.52pm Netherlands 5 GB 4
Serving to stay in the match, Katie needs to pull out every stop she has. Despite being 0-15 and then 15-30 down, she refuses to crumble, comes back to 30-30...40-30..then misses the forehand. Deuce. Can you tell that it's agonising.
To make matters worse, the line judges are back. I have ssshhh-ed them like a granny, they haven't piped down, and are now standing in front of me! Portuguese manners? Bad.
Katie plays a scrummy drop shot, Rus chases it down, Katie scrambles back to the baseline and does a pancake flipping the ball over her head, the ball lands in...but Rus wins the point... match point Netherlands... Phew. It's out. Oh my. Double fault on game point for OB brings it back to deuce. This is a battle of guts, wills and everything else. And Katie wins it, finally holding serve.
And continues to win it! OB breaks Rus to love, and we're back on serve. C'mon KT!.
2.40pm Netherlands 5 GB 2
Uh oh. This match is slipping away like the Red Sea. Rus is suddenly firing on all cylinders, bringing up two break points on the O'Brien serve. Not really what Katie's confidence needs. The Dutch girl breaks , and will serve for the match. How has it gone so pete tong?
I've said it before, but it's do or die time for Katie O'Brien here. Rus swaggers up to the baseline like Kevin Pietersen to serve out the match, and take that, it's suddenly 15-30...oh. 30-30. Big serve...40-30 and match point Netherlands. Rus misses the first serve, and misses the second...double fault! Her next shot goes in the net, and Katie has break back point... AR misses the next shot, and Katie breaks back. Golly.
2.30pm Netherlands 4 GB 1
Sorry about the slowness, the Internet seems to be lagging a little. I'm afraid to say that while it was hiccuping, Rus pulled off a crucial break of the O'Brien serve, and then held. Come on OB, dig in....we need trench warfare here.
2.18pm Netherlands 2 GB 1
Well, well, well done Katie. What a comeback. No doubt inspired by Bally and Borwell the Invincible's return from the dead yesterday. Let's hope set No.3 will go the same way, and then we can all have a nice cup of tea, or if you are Massimo the referee, something stronger. He confided earlier that champagne is his tipple of choice.
Rus bish boshes her first service game, as does Katie, and then OB puts a few kilos of pressure on in the Dutch girl's next service game. The lowdown from Louis, by the way, is that Rus is talented, but lazy. Hence her tendency to hit out. And we know that OB is anything but lazy. Rus faces a few BPs in the next game, but holds to stay on serve.
As well as King Orange, the other two members of the Dutch dude trio are also in attendance...
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Annie K tells me they've been coming to Fed Cup ties for as long as she remembers. That's a long time.
2.05pm GB 6 Netherlands 3
Will it be second time lucky for Katie in the serving out stakes? Yes it will....she brings up two more set points , drops the first, but makes no mistake on the second. Katie O'Brien takes the second set 6-3 and we'll go to a third set. Woo hoo!
Annie K meanwhile has had a little chat about her win earlier: "Overall I'm pleased. She got off to a good start, I was a little slow out of the blocks but she was hitting her spots pretty well. Once I had played my way into it I felt more comfortable as the match went on...it was nice to be in a situation where I was down in the first set, then to come back and finish strongly like yesterday was good."
2.02pm GB 5 Netherlands 3
Rus holds serve to keep herself in the second set by her fingernails, but no drama, Katie can just serve it out. It's much more satisfying that way. Uh oh. Rus isn't following that storyline. She breaks back. Cripes.
Rus races into a 30-0 lead on her serve, meaning Katie might have to do the business again on her serve, but hi ho, OB pulls it back to deuce. Rus shanks a ball into the tramlines, and Katie has her first set point. Eek. She nets it. Abracadabra...forehand winner! Second set point. Oh. Deuce. And Rus holds.
1.47pm GB 5 Netherlands 0
My nice quiet area at the side of the court has suddenly been overrun by line judges...and my they are loud. If I could understand them, it might be interesting, but my Portuguese is still at infant level, so all it is is noise. I might have to start sssshhhh-ing them in a minute, and I do dislike that. Makes me feel like a grandma.
Luckily they're not distracting Katie though, she's on quite a fruitful roll.... breaking Rus again for 4 love. Captain Bollegraf looks a little perturbed. More so when Katie holds. It's a whopping 5-0 lead for GB in set No.2.
1.38pm GB 3 Netherlands 0
Set No.2, and my that was close. Most irritating for OB. She's not giving up though, and holds serve to love. Atta girl.
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Atta girl even more....Katie has got the firepower out in this set, and only goes and breaks Rus immediately for 2-0. Super duper. Rus is not a happy kangaroo. OB holds, and has a chocolatey 3-0 lead.
1.27pm GB 5 Netherlands 7
Last year, at the Fed Cup in Tallinn, a particular security guard took delight in ejecting me from the viewing gallery at every possible juncture, so I have been somewhat relieved not to find him here. I spoke too soon. His twin, or sister, suddenly appears at my shoulder, telling me I have to leave! The cheek of it.
Thankfully Mr ITF saves the day and vouches for me. I'd better get him a present. And just as well, as Rus is serving for the set....can Katie break back again? She's certainly trying her best..it's another deuce, ad, deuce, ad ping pong match.....break point GB, set point Ned....tres tense.
A real scrambled egg of a rally has Rus practically on the floor, and gives Katie a second BP ....but the Dutch girl saves it again. Katie's next shot trickles out, and it's a second SP for the Neds. And this time it's too much.... Rus takes the first set 7-5.
1.16pm GB 5 Netherlands 6
If Rus keeps up the same level as before, there shouldn't be any danger of her not serving this out now. But you can never count out Katie OB, not when she's heading into battle like General Maximus. She doesn't even give AR a sniff at a set point, breaking back to 15. Huzzah.
But all that hard work goes to pot when she is suddenly 0-30 down on serve. Pheeew. 30-30. Rus made the errors there. Thanks very much. Katie has game point, but the Dutch girl swings her way back in it like a chimpanzee....deuce, and then breaks. Katie biffs a ball into the ground.
1.09pm GB 4 Netherlands 5
And another ball comes my way, this time landing on my head! Next thing I know I'll be joining Azarenka in Lisbon's finest hospital. OB scraps and scrapes to 0-30 on the AR serve, but the Dutch girl holds for a 5-3 lead. Humph.
It leaves Katie serving to stay in the set...not a place she'd like to be I'm sure. Much like Bognor Regis. No danger though, she holds to love . Brava, brava.
1.02pm GB 3 Netherlands 4
Rus steps up a gear to make sure there's no breakage on her next service game, and continues her climb up Mt 'play better tennis' in Katie's next service game. It's 15-40, and the Dutch girl has two break points. Not good. She just needs one, and Rus breaks. Definitely not good.
12.55pm GB 3 Netherlands 2
Maybe Katie can do something about that break right away, getting herself a big BP almost immediately. Rus really has gone off the boil, (just like my broken kettle), and Katie has a second break point, and then a third BP. Surely one will go her way? Yes indeed. Katie breaks back.
Stop press. Louis Cayer has his sunglasses on. The cool dude. He looks like he's going skiing. Where was I? Ah yes, Katie's serve. Can she make it three games on the trot? I sure hope so. She does just that, and Rus isn't exactly looking chuffed. I think tennis players must perfect their peeved and annoyed faces at night in the bathroom mirror.
12.45pm GB 1 Netherlands 2
I think Katie might need her squeezy man right away. Rus comes out, all long limbs and attitude, and goes and breaks the Brit straight away. She then batters down her serve, she's pretty tall y'know, and is 2-0 up.
Uh oh...OB then struggles again on her serve...it's a deuce encounter. Oof. She holds though. But the Neds are a break up.
12.20pm If the tension is too much...
...Grab a handy squeezy stress man, courtesy of BP. What genius, what advertising potential, how hilarious.
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I'm not quite sure why he's dressed as a chef though. Louis has gone back and forth, back and forth, picking up one for each of the girls to squeeze in the changeovers. Bless.
Anyway, Katie OB is on the court for the second singles match, her opponent is the talented left-hander Arantxa Rus, named after the great Sanchez-Vicario, so again, it's not an easy task for OB. Anne beat Rus in straight sets last year though, so if Katie plays well, she can bosh this one on the head.
12.05pm GB 6 Netherlands 3
It looks like Anne might completely spoil the party for Ewijk by winning the game there and then...pottering along to deuce. But the Dutch girl holds firm, and will make Anne do the hard work.
Serving for the match then, and fingers crossed for no wibble wobbles. A big serve, some blistering groundies, and it's two match points. An ace'll do nicely, and Anne pulls through, 7-6, 6-3.
ANNE KEOTHAVONG DEFEATS CHAYENNE EWIJK 7-6, 6-3 TO GIVE GB A 1-0 LEAD AGAINST THE NETHERLANDS.
12pm GB 5 Netherlands 2
Well, well. Annie K's certainly got her motor running now...it's like a jumbo jet tearing up this court. She breaks the Edam-lover to 15, holds to 15, and leads 5-2. Imp-eressive.
11.52am GB 3 Netherlands 2
Bricka brack break time? Looks unlikely when CE is 40-15 up, but like James Bond, you can never say die. AK machine guns her way back to deuce, gets a break point, and breaks back. Topsy turvy.
But Ewijk is determined to have the last laugh, and pulls off a drop shot winner on the AK serve! Cheeky monkey. Surely that's not the etiquette. Anne is 0-30 down and looking peeved. But she's made of strong British stock...pow, pow, pow, 40-30. Oh. Deuce. Most inconvenient.
I'd like to know who taught Anne her backhand. It's creamy when she lets it rip. Like nutella. Oh my. One of her serves just ricocheted off the wall, skips off a chair, and landed on my keyboard. Ouch. Anyway, after a little spot of bother, Anne holds, and we're back on serve.
I don't believe it. The crown is back.
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Look at the shine on that thing. He must wash it daily.
11.41am GB 1 Netherlands 2
Anne really did snatch that set from under Ewijk's nose, and must be feeling pretty jammy dodger-esque to be a set up. And the Dutch girl certainly feels that way, coming out and breaking Anne in the first game. Gosh.
She then holds, and Anne wins her serve in reply, but she's still a break down at the start of the second set. Deja vu anyone?
11.25am Netherlands 6 GB 7
Right, second time lucky in serving out the set. But Ewijk isn't giving up easily, and breaks back again. Painful.
Tie-break territory then. And Anne starts well with a mini-break... 1-0 GB. Surely experience will be the victor here. I jinxed it. AK drops both service points... 2-1 Ned. Pheew. Double fault from CE..the ball stuck in the top of the net like it was a homing beacon. Still... 4-2 Ned. Not good.
And Anne's not happy about people wandering around at the side of the court. Quite right too. They should be punished. Things aren't going her way on the court either... 5-3 Ned. Crikey.
She gets back one point though, and we're back on serve. I think. These TB things are always tricky to follow. And how about that... 6-5 GB Top work. A double fault later, and Anne wins the first set, 7-6 (5). Wowser. Ewijk is having a bathroom break.
11.10am Netherlands 5 GB 6
This is quite a turnaround from Anne Keothavong...she's serving for the set. But Ewijk isn't making it easy...it's 15-40, and two break back points for the Dutch. It's like teetering on the edge of a diving board this. Big serve from AK saves one, but CE hits a ridonk shot to take the other and break back. Bother.
Aya. That was steady hitting from the Dutch girl. And Annie's broken a string. Perhaps a new racket will do the trick. They're very nice, Anne's new bats - the same ones Henin uses, doncha know. It doesn't help I'm afraid. Ooooh. Maybe it does. Annie battles back from 40-15 to deuce. This could be it...yes... break point GB . Yipee she gets it.
And here's Anne in action...
It's exhausting just looking at all that running. And that's only one point.
10.58am Netherlands 4 GB 5
Agent K serving to pull herself level for the first time in this set, and she's looking more and more chipper by the minute. There's a nice contigent cheering her on (perhaps our ball boy fan has brought in recruits), and AK holds.
Chayenne suddenly looks a little ruffled. And she's right to....AK is buzzing around her serve like a wasp, and the Brit has break point. This could be good. Or not. Deuce again. Oh ho, break point No.2. Oh. Deuce. A cross-court screamer brings up a third BP ....and they just keep on coming. Perhaps the fourth BP will be the money one. And it is. Anne breaks. Yee ha.
Elsewhere in the world, shock horror, Ken Skupski will be playing singles! k_skupski on twitter: "I've found myself in the singles qualifying draw. Can't wait! Im first up tomorrow at 9am. It will be on www.atptennis.com live scores. BOOM. Now that I'd love to see. No offence Ken. We know you're very good.
10.44am Netherlands 4 GB 3
Our mystery Dutch girl reached a career-high ranking of 229, in February last year, so should be no match for AK 47's firepower. The normally chirpy Brit is struggling a bit at the moment though, being pushed and pushed like a button on her serve. She said to me that her serve has been her best thing in practice, but in the matches, it's been tricky. That's where the noddle comes into it.
Have faith Annie K. A double fault is not the ticket though, and Ewijk has another break point. Gosh. Deuce. She's bringing out the c'mon's now though...and holds. Crucial.
Ah ha. Something's clicked for AK, and she's got herself 0-30 on the Orange girl's serve. Kerpow with the forehand, kerplunk with the backhand. It's working...15-40, and two break back points. She gets it, and there's the fist pump. Back in the game.
Great. Now the ball boys are laughing at me clapping on my own. Can't imagine why.
10.35am Netherlands 4 GB 1
A bombastic game from AK please...that'll do nicely. Yes. My telepathy is paying off....Anne breezes to a 30-0 lead on her serve, which soon becomes 40-15. But Hoges is having a stormer. A return winner and a back peddle worth of Pele for a smash gives her deuce. Yikes... break point Netherlands. I'm going to fire my telepathist.
Pheeew. Annie saves it with a lob and saves the game. Uh oh. Very bad reporting from yours truly. It isn't Hogenkamp at all, it's Chayenne Ewijk....a very-un Dutch name. Blame the GB bench. They said it was Hoges.
Ewijk is currently ranked 397, but she certainly isn't playing like it. She holds to lead 4-1.
And oh my. I'm suddenly surrounded by ball boys. Where did they come from? And no, I don't have any sweets.
10.25am Netherlands 3 GB 0
This Hogenkamp girl certainly likes to batter it. And I'm afraid it's taken AK a bit off guard. Hoges holds serve, and then converts her third break point to break Annie K in her first service game. Yeouch.
She's got a 40-0 lead to cement the break, and so far not so good for GB. But Anne had a slow start yesterday, only natural when you've been out for as long as she has. So I'm sure she'll come racing back.
And look at that. 40-30. Oh. Anne's frame gets in the way. Netherlands hold.
10.10am And we're off...
Right then, the fourth and final day of this tie is about to start. Are you excited? I hope so, because Annie K looks pumped and ready to rock and rolla. She and Nige have a nice little chat discussing tactics and the like (it's all Greek to me), and gets going for the warm-up.
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Anne's opponent is the Dutch No.2, Richel Hogenkamp, which is a nice Dutch name. And we've got another famous captain on our hands....Manon Bollegraf. Haven't heard of her? She won four mixed doubles titles in her professional career, the 1989 French Open, the 1991 US Open, and the 1997 Australian and US Opens.
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I've got bomber jacket envy. That looks cosy and warm.
9.40am Batteries
I'd like to apologise again to the readers for the various lapses in technology that have occurred out here....power cuts, internet explosions...but the final straw must have been the laptop battery going flat with GB serving for the doubles...I really am sorry.....
David Borwell on facebook: "All in GB worn out after last nights epic contest, well done girls and our intrepid reporter, it was fantastic until the batteries failed!!!had to text Ann to keep us posted. Best Wishes today, roll out the Edam, kick the clogs into touch, go get em girlsXXXX
Do you mean my clogs David? Oh dear. If I must. Of course I must. Let's go GB! Thank you also to all those writing in and supporting GB on twitter...it's great to know you're following..
As far as the batteries go, I've pinched an extension lead. (Don't tell anyone). So we should be safe.
9.30am Brrrrrrr
I just wanted to make sure you took in the temperature here. I don't know if it's because I'm reading about James Cracknell and Ben Fogle's recent escapade to the South Pole (I thoroughly recommend it), but I am suddenly very worried about hyperthermia.
'Whatchoo talkin' about Willis?'....I hear you say. Quite. Stop babbling. As Bally revealed on the ever-growing medium that is twitter, it will be Annie K and Katie OB competing in the singles today...and they are out boshing the ball around on the Centre Court.
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As for the other two? I suspect they're probably enjoying the warm temperatures back at their hotel. I don't mind, really. Here's a little reminder of them in play last night, warming up before their marathon doubles.
Did I mention that they saved two match points? Exactly. BOOM.
9am Buon Dia
You know when you see those artic-type photos where there is steam rising off everything because it's so cold? That is the way the Estadio Nacional de Jamor looks this morning as the teams pitch up at the crack of dawn for practice. Brrrrrrrrr. Getting out of bed this morning was like pulling teeth. But I am here, and awake. Just.
The tie proper may be done and dusted, the promotion and relegation (thankfully) playoffs taking place without the girls in red, white, and blue. But today the Brits have one last task on their hands, defeating the Netherlands for some all-important Fed Cup ranking points. So chuck out the Edam in your fridge and hide away any orange clothing...today is about taking down the Dutch.
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It's at this point I should admit that I actually own a pair of clogs. They are my most comfortable pair of house shoes. But I would bin them in an instant...
Team GB are just about to take to the practice court, and spirits are high after last night's doublestastic win... @ElenaBaltacha: "Just had breaky with the team..playing Netherlands at 10am...anne up 1st,then Katie!COME ON GB!!!!!x" She is exuberant, that Bally ho. I'm going to nip out for some snaps and vids, but in the meantime, let me know what you think about Fed Cup so far. Any questions for the girls? Ask away....twitter or on our facebook page.
Back to Fed Cup as it happens