After the relatively straightforward success over the minnows Liechtenstein yesterday, Britain's women were brought back to a harsh reality in Budapest today in their second group qualifier in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I tournament. Turkey were expected to be far more formidable adversaries, even though their players were not ranked highly in the world, and so it proved as the Brits fell to a slightly surprising 2-1 rubber defeat, after crucially losing both of the singles matches. They did regain some ground and confidence by taking the doubles though and they can still top their group with a victory tomorrow against Ukraine, although they are the toughest of their opponents thus far on paper.
Heather Watson had experienced a comfortable straight sets victory on Wednesday in the singles, but found the match today against 25-year-old Cagla Buyukakcay a far trickier proposition. Only ranked 117 in the world currently, the far higher-ranked Watson (at 38) may have expected to beat the Turk, especially after regaining her composure after losing the first set, by drawing level at one set apiece as she took the second. However, in a tense decider it was her opponent who raised her game yet again to clinch the match 6-2 3-6 7-5.
Compatriot Johanna Konta (ranked 145) had matched Watson's winning form the previous day, but also disappointingly came unstuck in her singles match, losing 6-3 7-6 to the teenager Ipek Soylu, despite her rival being ranked outside the world's top 300.
The second set tie-break almost allowed the Aussie-born Konta back into the rubber, but she ultimately failed by eight points to six in a tight tussle at the end.
Britain's women did at least give captain Judy Murray something to be pleased about in the doubles, as the pairing of Anna Smith and Jocelyn Rae dovetailed neatly once again, to sweep aside their Turkish opposition of Basak Eraydin and Pemra Ozgen 6-2 6-1. It was their second win in succession, after also being successful on Wednesday.
Britain need to top their group to have any chance of advancing forward in the Fed Cup qualifying preliminaries.