Late substitute Harriet Dart beat Caijsa Hennemann to seal a 3-1 win for Nice Britain towards Sweden of their Billie Jean King Cup play-off.
Dart was chosen by captain Anne Keothavong as a substitute of Jodie Burrage, who had suffered a shock defeat by Kajsa Rinaldo Persson on Saturday.
After Burrage was affected by nerves, Dart thrived on the added stress to win 7-5 6-2 in London.
Earlier, Katie Boulter had put GB 2-1 up with victory over Rinaldo Persson.
There have been scenes of jubilation on the Copper Field Area as Hennemann fired large on match level to provide Britain the victory, which seals their place within the qualifying spherical for the 2024 Finals.
In the meantime, Sweden, who had been vying for promotion from the European/African zone will stay within the decrease tier of the ladies’s staff occasion.
‘It was very troublesome for me’
Having watched from the sidelines when Rinaldo Persson beat Burrage the day past, Boulter knew she would face a harder match than their distinction in rankings recommended.
“She’s undoubtedly difficult. She has some weapons which, particularly on these courts, they actually appear to assist her,” Boulter advised a information convention after successful 6-1 7-6 (7-5).
“She retains combating, she raised her degree clearly above her rating once more at present and she or he made it very troublesome for me.”
Regardless of lacking two break factors in Rinaldo Persson’s first service sport, Boulter broke on the second alternative for a 3-1 lead.
Rinaldo Persson put the 27-year-old underneath stress within the subsequent sport however Boulter saved two break factors to maintain momentum on her facet, earlier than going a double break up and serving out the set.
Having exchanged breaks at first of the second set, the Swede broke at 4-3, however she missed 4 set factors and dropped serve whereas making an attempt to degree the match.
Forcing a tie-break, Boulter held her nerve to pounce on the proper second and the partisan crowd erupted as she secured the win that put Nice Britain forward for the primary time within the tie.
“You are not going to save lots of set factors and not using a little little bit of coronary heart, slightly little bit of luck, slightly little bit of onerous work and trusting the method of what I’ve put in these previous, many numerous years and at present it pulled off,” Boulter stated.
“One other day it won’t however I am very glad at present it did and it was for my nation which makes it slightly bit sweeter.”
Evaluation
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Regardless of the shock of shedding the primary match of the tie, this was in the end a cushty weekend for GB and it means they’ll have a crack at successful the trophy in 2024.
The draw for April’s qualifying spherical will happen later this month and Anne Keothavong can look ahead with a certain quantity of optimism.
The staff doesn’t at the moment boast any top-50 gamers, however with Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and hopefully Emma Raducanu to select from subsequent 12 months, there needs to be competitors for locations.
The problem for Burrage – and her captain – might be to ensure yesterday’s grisly debut doesn’t have an effect on future performances.
The 24-year-old dealt with the frustration impressively in public. She spoke actually in regards to the stress within the post-match press convention and was a smiling and supportive member of the staff bench on Sunday.
Extra to comply with.
