April 2019 will see east London play host to an international team tennis tie for the first time as Great Britain face Kazakhstan in Fed Cup World Group II Play Off.
The LTA announced today that East London is to stage an international team tennis tie for the first ever time. The Copper Box Area at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be the venue for the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Group II Play-Off.
The tie will see Great Britain battling it out against Kazakhstan from 20-21 April, with GB aiming to return to the World Group for the first time since 1993.
Hosting the tie in Hackney is a key part of the LTA’s new strategy to open up tennis to new audiences and areas, through showcasing the GB women’s team and bringing world-class tennis to new and existing British fans.
It is only the fourth time in 24 home ties that a Fed Cup or Davis Cup has been staged in the capital, and never before in east London.
The announcement was made at a visit to Clapton Girls Academy in Hackney by LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd and GB Fed Cup Captain Anne Keothavong, who herself grew up in Hackney.
The pair played tennis and took questions from pupils at the school, which is part of a project supported by a partnership between the LTA and Greenhouse Sports.
Anne Keothavong, Great Britain’s Fed Cup Captain said:
It’s very special to come back to my home borough of Hackney.
Having grown up and started playing tennis here, I never dreamt that one day I would be coming back and leading the British team in what is the world cup of women’s team tennis.
It just goes to show the power of sport and demonstrates to these young women what can be achieved if you work hard.
I’m hoping that seeing our players perform with all they have got will inspire the next generation of kids to get out there and get involved with tennis.
Tickets will go on general sale next week with more information available at www.lta.org.uk/FedCup
