Konta ‘happy to come through for the team’

JO Konta has responded to her new captain Anne Keothavong to inspire BritainŠ—Ès Fed Cup team and declared: Š—“IŠ—Èm really happy to come through for the team.

I think she is doing a tremendous job of bringing us together as a team

Keothavong hoped her No.1 would help get BritainŠ—Ès promotion campaign off to a flyer in Estonia.

Konta did just that as GB overcame Portugal 3-0 in their opening Europe/Africa zone group match 3-0 in Tallinn.

The world top-tenner defeated Michelle Larcher, ranked 246, 6-2 6-4

She said: Š—“I’m really happy to have got the match under my belt. It was a high-level match, and it got better and better as the match went on. She made me work for it in the end and I’m really happy to have come through for the team. We’ll try to come back stronger every day.”

Konta was full of praise for Keothavong who is hoping to succeed where predecessor Judy Murray failed at get GB up a level.

Konta said: “I think she is doing a tremendous job of bringing us together as a team.

“It’s always a tricky one because we spend most of the year as individuals, so for her to do such a good job with us, it says a lot about her.

“We’ve got lots of team bonding in the evenings, lots of funny things going on.”

British No.2 Watson took just under an hour to defeat Ines Murta, listed at 546th, 6-1 6-1

Watson said:: “It’s my first match since the Aussie Open so I’m really happy with the way I played and also to get the first win under the belt for GB.

GB next take on Latvia, with world No.35. Jelena Ostapenko, who defeated Turkey 2-1.

Îà Quotes from BBC.