Fed Cup heroics earn Baltacha nomination

British No 1 Elena Baltacha has been nominated by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for one of its Fed Cup Heart Awards after helping guide Great Britain into a promotion play-off with a string of gutsy wins in Eilat, Israel last month.

Baltacha, if selected by new captain Judy Murray, will spearhead the Great Britain team on 6-8 April when they travel to play Sweden away for a place in Fed Cup World Group II.

Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson is also nominated in the same Fed Cup Heart Award category. According to the ITF, the award “aims to recognise players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team”.

Baltacha said: “Fed Cup means the world to me so I’m very, very proud to be nominated, especially alongside such great players. Obviously it’s a team event, though, so if I won I’d have to share it with my fellow GB girls and our captain Judy!

“That week in Israel was amazing and it was one of the most memorable weeks of my career. Fed Cup is a fantastic competition and I can’t wait to get together with the rest of the girls next month – if I’m selected – and give promotion a really good crack!”

Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia), Christina McHale (USA), Samantha Stosur (Australia) and Roberta Vinci (Italy) have all been shortlisted for the World Group/World Group II award. Arvidsson (Sweden) and Baltacha (Great Britain) have been shortlisted for Europe/Africa; Catalina Castano (Colombia) and Florencia Molinero (Argentina) for Americas; and Li Na (China) and Galina Voskoboeva (Kazakhstan) for Asia/Oceania. Voting for the award closes on 22 March.