Johanna Konta leaves it late to ensure Great Britain progress in Fed Cup group

It was not quite like 3.15am at the Australian Open, but there was more late night drama for Jo Konta as she heaved Great Britain over the line to put them in Saturday’s Fed Cup playoff match.

And unlike in Melbourne the British No 1 survived this one intact, as she saw off the unexpectedly formidable challenge of Hungary’s Anna Bondar to set up a final contest of the week against fellow group toppers Serbia on Saturday afternoon.

As Katie Boulter had done earlier, Konta held her nerve to win a sudden death tiebreak, this one 7-4. 

Johanna Konta was pushed all the way before ensuring Great Britain progress in the Fed Cup

The British No 1 was pushed in three fascinating sets by Hungary’s world No 224 Anna Bondar

Victory means Anne Keothavong’s team face Serbia on Saturday in a play-off game to progress

She defeated the world No 224 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 in nearly two and three quarter hours and must come back today and do it all again versus theoretically stronger opposition.

The powerful Bondar had, though, played to an astoundingly high level for someone who has never even been in a Grand Slam qualifying event.

‘She played lights out for a big part of that match and it was hard to be on the receiving end of it,’ said Konta. ‘She didn’t drop her level like I expected.’

Konta was full of praise for her opponent who played to an astoundingly high level throughout

Remarkably, Bondar has never even been in a Grand Slam qualifying event in her career so far

Victory for Anne Keothavong’s team would be a fitting way to round off a successfully-staged event at Bath University sports centre, and it would give GB another shot, in April, at gaining promotion to the elite World Group level of this competition.

To do that that they may well have to win both singles on Saturday, given the absence through injury this week of GB’s highest ranked doubles player Heather Watson and the self-imposed unavailability of the No 2, Naomi Broady.

Boulter had once again showed impressive resolve in defeating former Wimbledon junior singles and doubles champion Dalma Galfi 6-4, 6-7, 7-6.

The Leicestershire player provided more evidence of her improvement in the past year by fending off the flat hitting Galfi and then holding her nerve to win the deciding tiebreak 7-1.

‘I told myself that I was going to go after it and if I was going to lose then I was going to lose being positive,’ said Boulter. ‘ That is exactly what I did today and it paid off.’ 

There was success in the opening match of the rubber as Katie Boulter won in Bath once more

There were big smiles from the British bench as she celebrated winning over Dalma Galfi