Captain Murray is aiming to recreate winning combination of youth and experience for Fed Cup

Wednesday 11 April 2012

TEAM spirit was undoubtedly a major contributing factor when, under the captaincy of Judy Murray in February, Great Britain's Fed Cup team progressed from the gruelling Euro/Africa Zone Group I for the first time in eight years.

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Stuart Fraser

With the experience of the 28-year-olds Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong, paired with the youthful exuberance of teenagers Laura Robson, aged 18, and Heather Watson, 19, Murray found the perfect blend in Israel to attain one of the most significant achievements in British women's tennis for many years.

Hence there will be no surprises when Murray today announces her team for next week's World Group II play-off away to Sweden in the town of Boras. There were concerns over Baltacha after she pulled out of this week's WTA Barcelona Ladies Open with a foot injury, but the Scot is hoping to have fully recovered for the tie by the time it gets under way on Saturday April 21.Robson and Watson also return to the team after making a significant contribution in February, both on and off the court. The pair are the next big hopes in British tennis and have handled the transition from the junior to senior game with ease, both currently sitting just outside the top 100.And recently, in their first interview together, the pair were remarkably laid back about the hype surrounding them ever since they won junior grand slam titles – Robson won Wimbledon at the age of 14 in 2008; Watson was victorious at the US Open in 2009."I don't see it as a burden," said Watson. Robson agreed: "I have never really paid any attention to it; otherwise I would have the biggest ego ever. I like playing tennis and that's what I do really; I try my best on court every time."There has been such a high level of anticipation that the media interest surrounding their first match against each other at an ITF event in Barnstaple last October was unprecedented for such a low-key event – Robson won a close encounter 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.Compatriots can handle rivalry in different ways. Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski were never the best of friends, whereas the Spanish players have always been seen to be fierce competitors on the court but good friends off it."I think we will be very Spanish," said Robson, on her inevitable rivalry with her team-mate. "We are going to be like Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, except Rafa wins all the time, so maybe that's not the best example."

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Captain Murray is aiming to recreate winning combination of youth and experience for Fed Cup

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