2005 Apr 23 - Fed Cup: O'Brien shines in defeat

Great Britain were playing for pride as they met the Ukraine in the Euro-Africa Zone Group play-offs but they were defeated 2-1 in the dead tie.

Losses to Slovenia and Serbia & Montenegro meant that Great Britain could no longer qualify for the World Group play-offs but the win over Denmark secured their place on the Euro-African Zone Group for another year.

Katie O-Brien was handed her singles debut and grabbed the opportunity with both hands as she stunned Valeria Bondarenko with an impressive 6-3 6-3 straight sets victory. Elena Baltacha could have wrapped up the tie for Great Britain had she not been stunned 6-1 6-3 by Alyona Bondarenko.

Katie O-Brien and Jane O'Donoghue were unable to emulate their doubles victory against Serbia & Montenegro as they fell 6-3 6-2 to the Bondarenko sisters Valeria and Alyona in the deciding rubber.

Nick Brown (Great Britain Coach) said:

"It’s been a good week for the girls and good experience for them.

"The girls have now got a year to develop and improve their games and hopefully in maybe two years’ time they’ll be pushing for a promotion spot from this group."

Bulgaria and Slovenia have qualified for the World Group play-offs in July. Poland and Greece have been relegated from the Euro-Africa Zone Group having both lost all four of their matches.