Watson’s Mono Will Likely Keep Her Away From Fed Cup Action

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 9th April 2013

Watson’s Mono Will Likely Keep Her Away From Fed Cup Action

epa03538457 Heather Watson of Great Britain returns to Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan in their 2nd round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2013. EPA/BARBARA WALTON |

Heather Watson has failed in her bid to recover from Glandular Fever or Mononucleosis in time to be included in Britain’s Fed Cup team that travels to Buenos Aires to face Argentina the World Group II promotion play off on April 20-21.

Watson was diagnosed as suffering from the illness little more than a week ago after undergoing medical tests in Miami. However they showed the virus was in its’ later stages and there was still feint optimism the 20 year-old would be fit enough to line up alongside Laura Robson at the Mery Terán De Weiss Stadium.

But such hopes were proved to be in vain and today captain Judy Murray named a team of Robson, 154th ranked Johanna Konta, veteran Anne Keothavong, who last month won the $50,000 French challenger title in Croissy Beaubourg, and Elena Baltacha who has not played competitively since last August’s Olympic Games.

Captain Murray said: “Of course we will miss having Heather with us in Buenos Aires but we are fortunate to have strength in depth and a great mix of youth and experience in our squad.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for GB to grab a place in World Group II and we will be doing everything we can to make that happen.”

The British team with Watson emerged as joint winners of the 16-group Europe/Africa Zone Group I staged in Israel in February to reach the play-off position. The winners of the Britain-Argentina tie will be promoted to the eight-nation 2014 World Group II.

Britain, ranked 16th best nation in the world, are bidding to rejoin the World Group stage of the Fed Cup competition for the first time since 1993.