Aegon GB Fed Cup Team into play-offs after epic win over Ukraine

Watch Judy Murray's reaction to a pulsating day of action at the Fed Cup in Budapest

The Aegon GB Fed Cup Team put on a memorable performance to beat Ukraine 3-0 and surge into the play-offs as Group B winners.

A tall order at the start of the day, a gutsy display from Judy Murray’s girls saw them pip their opponents and Turkey to top spot and seal a play-off match against Belarus with the winners heading to the World Group II play-offs in April.

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After earlier singles wins for Heather Watson and Johanna Konta, the inform pairing of Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith needed to win a set of their doubles match to be sure of progressing.

At 7-6, 5-4 match point down to Elina Svitolina and Olga Savchuk, it did not look good. However, they fought back to win three games in a row and the set they desperately needed 7-5.

Major celebrations broke out when they won the final point of the match after a 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Heather Watson & Judy Murray by Getty Images

Konta got the day off to a perfect start with a stunning 6-3, 6-2 win against higher ranked opponent Lesia Tsurenko.

The British No.2 broke Tsurenko’s serve twice in the opening set before demonstrating her fighting qualities in the second.

Despite going an early break down to trail 2-0, Konta roared back to win the next six games in a row and set the scene for an exciting afternoon of tennis.

After her match: Konta said: “There was a lot riding on today’s match with every game counting.

“I did my best, fought hard and was lucky enough to be playing well. The two married together and we came out with the win. Heather then backed it up with an amazing win.

“You are always going to have up and down days. Credit to Turkey on Thursday they played well. Today the cards were more in our favour.”

It was an epic battle between Watson and world No.26 Svitolina with the Ukrainian back in form following her first two day’s efforts.  

Watson quickly found herself 5-2 down in the opener and had her serve broken again to lose the set 6-2.

With GB needing the win, despite losing her serve on a couple of occasions, Watson broke three times in key parts of the set and held her nerve to serve it out 7-5.

In the tense decider, two time WTA tour title winner Watson broke in the middle of the set but had to navigate a titanic service game to keep the advantage before sealing an emotional 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 win.

The first set of the doubles saw six breaks of serve in a rollercoaster encounter. It went down to a tie-break which the Ukrainian partnership won 8-6.

Rae & Smith were up against it in the must-win second after going 3-0 behind but somehow managed to claw their way back into the match.

After saving the match point, they kept the momentum throughout the third set and got their third win of the week so far to cap an amazing day. 

Quotes from the captain:

Judy Murray said: “It was an amazing day today. We had such a disappointing day yesterday and everyone was very flat leaving the courts.

“We managed to turn it around. I think it was the team game of Pictionary in the evening. The team beat the staff convincingly I might add.

“Jo got us off to a great start with a convincing win and Heather had to dig so deep to get past Elina Svitolina who made the last 16 of the Australian Open last week.

“It was such a tough match on a slow court and it was a huge huge win for Heather.

“To top it off our dream team doubles pair came back from losing the first set. It really was a fantastic performance from the girls and sets us up nicely for the play-off tomorrow and we will throw the kitchen sink at it.” 

Spotlight on Belarus: World Ranking 24

(View full draw, results and group standings)

Belarus so far:

Against Georgia 04/02/2015 - WON 3-0

Olga Govortsova 6-1 6-3 Ekaterine Gorgodze

Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1 4-6 7-5 Sofia Shapatava

Vera Lapko & Sasnovich 6-3 6-4 Oksana Kalashnikova & Shapatava

Against Bulgaria 05/02/2015 - WON 3-0 

Olga Govortsova 6-2 6-3 Elitsa Kostova

Victoria Azarenka 6-3 2-6 7-5 Tsvetana Pironkova

Vera Lapko & Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5 6-1 Dia Evtimova & Vikitoriya Tomova

 Against Portugal 06/02/2015 - WON 2-1

Olga Govortsova 6-3 6-2 Maria Koehler

Aliaksandra Sasnovich 4-6 2-6 Michelle Larcher De Brito  

Vera Lapko & Sasnovich 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2 Barbara Luz & Ines Murta