Anne Keothavong tipped Czechia to win the Billie Jean King Cup after Great Britain’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals.
Britain were bidding to reach the last four for the fourth time in five years but were considerable underdogs in Shenzhen and defeats for Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter sealed their fate.
Led by Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, the whole Czech team is ranked higher than any of Britain’s players, and it was Noskova who sealed victory with a 6-2 7-6 (3) win over Boulter.
That followed a lengthy struggle between Marie Bouzkova and Kartal lasting a minute short of three hours, which the Czech eventually took 7-6 (2) 4-6 6-4.
It was a fine effort from Kartal, who was playing her first match in six months after suffering a stress fracture in her back in Indian Wells in March.
Captain Keothavong said: “It was always going to be a tough challenge against the Czechs.
“Obviously we would have loved a win, but we’ve got to maintain perspective. For both these players, it required their absolute best and a bit of luck for the result to go our way.
“I can’t fault their efforts. I think the Czechs are the strongest team here. I’d be surprised if they don’t go on to win this competition.”
Czechia will bid for their seventh title in the competition since 2011, with a match against either Kazakhstan or Spain next, while Britain’s hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time are over for another year.
Keothavong’s team have over-performed in the Billie Jean King Cup in recent years and did so again by reaching the finals, with an under-strength team upsetting Australia in April.
Neither Kartal nor Boulter were available for that tie, with the former in the early stages of an injury break that would eventually see her miss the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Kartal found her range immediately against 26th-ranked Bouzkova, who was preferred to Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, but let an early lead slip and was edged out in a first-set tie-break.
Kartal hit back well in the second set and briefly led in the decider but seemed to tire before rousing herself for a final flurry that just came up short.
“These events are my favourite, but they also sting the most,” said the 24-year-old, who is now ranked down at 127.
“Regardless of how long I’ve spent off the court, I can look back at that performance and be happy. I think it gives myself a lot of confidence going forwards for the rest of the Asian swing.”
Boulter has not been in good form and made a poor start against world number six Noskova, losing the opening four games.
She rallied thereafter and matched Noskova in the second set, but the Czech number one served brilliantly in the tie-break.
“I felt like I probably put a little bit too much pressure on myself in the first set to play well,” said Boulter.
“I started to build my way into it. I felt like I did a great job at putting that behind me and trying to move forward.”
