• Fed Cup

Britain power into World Group play-offs

ESPN staff
February 4, 2012
Judy Murray's team won all four of their ties in Israel this week © Getty Images
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Great Britain took a step closer to playing amongst world tennis' elite for the first time since 1993 after winning their Fed Cup play-off against Austria in Israel.

Judy Murray's side had won all three of their Europe/Africa Zone I round-robin ties in Eilat, and they saw off Austria in emphatic fashion, Elena Baltacha clinching the all-important rubber after Anne Keothavong had given Team GB an early lead.

Keothavong lost her opening service game against Patricia Mayr-Achleitner, but grabbed a late break in the opening set before snatching the tiebreak. The British No. 2 tightened her grip on the match, breaking to go 2-1 up before closing out a 7-6(5) 6-3 victory.

Baltacha wasted little time in clinching a 6-1 6-4 win over Tamira Paszek. Baltacha, who is unbeaten in four singles rubbers this week, powered through the opening set in 24 minutes, and although Paszek put up a greater resistance in the second, Baltacha proved too strong as she wrapped up the match, and with it Britain's place in the World Group play-offs.

Britain are now one win away from a place in the World Group II - they will play their play-off tie over the weekend of April 21-22.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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