The Fed Cup 2014 Group 1 Europe/Africa zone matches will start tomorrow in Hungary until the 9th. The Fed Cup is the woman's equivalent of the Davis Cup though doesn't get the same level of media coverage.

GB is in Pool B along with Hungary, Latvia and Romania. It's a round robin tournament and each country plays 2 singles and 1 doubles matches against each of the other 3 countries so each country plays 9 matches.

There are 4 pools. The winners of pool A and B play the winners of pool C and D. The eventual 2 winners advance to the World Group II play-offs in April. The bottom-placed nations in Pool A and Pool B will play-off against the bottom-placed nations in Pool C and Pool D to determine which two nations will be relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2015.

GB's team consists of Johanna Konta, Heather Watson, Tara Moore and Jocelyn Rae. Unfortunately Laura Robson is out with that wrist injury. Although on paper GB is the highest ranked country of the 4, Laura Robson's absence makes the ranking a bit meaningless. Realistically, the best that GB can hope for this year is to avoid being the bottom country in their pool.

GB's first set of matches in the Fed Cup are tomorrow afternoon and are against Latvia. Latvia is the lowest ranked country in GB's pool so it is essential the GB win against Latvia.

Considering that the top Latvian player is ranked 216 and the next is ranked 705, GB should be the winners though nothing should be taken for granted.

GB got off to a winning start against Latvia 2-1.

Heather Watson defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-5 6-1 and Johanna Konta then claimed a battling 6-3 4-6 7-5 victory over Diana Marcinkevica. GB lost the doubles match (rankings indicate that Latvia is stronger at doubles than singles so the result is not unexpected).

GB's next set of matches is on Friday.

In the Fed Cup today's matches are against Romania this afternoon. The Romanian singles players are far higher ranked than the British players and this will be far harder for GB to win today.

Good start for GB against Romania this afternoon. Heather Watson has just beaten Sorana Cirstea 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.

Sorana Cirstea is ranked 26, so this is the best result that Heather Watson has had for some time. I don't think this will have any effect on Heather Watson's ranking as I don't think Fed Cup matches are taken into account. But it must boost her confidence.

Sadly GB lost the other 2 matches against Romania. Simona Halep proved too strong for Konta, powering through 6-1 6-4. It came down to the doubles and Monica Niculescu and Irina-Camelia Begu sealed the tie with plenty to spare in a 6-0 6-2 victory against Heather Watson and Jocelyn Rae.

The result means that the most likely outcome is that GB remain the the Group 1 Europe/Africa zone, Romania will be in the promotion play-offs and Latvia in the relegation play-offs.

Realistically, that is the best that GB could have expected this year in the Fed Cup. Hopefully next year with Laura Robson back the result will be a lot better.

This afternoon's matches are GB v Hungary (for 2nd & 3rd places) and Romania v Latvia.

It looks as if the Hungarian team are Timea Babos (ranked 83 singles/26 doubles) and Reka-Luca Jani (ranked 253 singles/171 doubles).

Straight forward win for Heather Watson against Reka-Luca Jani this afternoon winning 6-4, 6-1.

I think Johanna Konta will have a much harder match against Timea Babos.

Johanna Konta lost a dramatic second singles 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to Timea Babos having won the first set and being 1-5 up in the second set. Jocelyn Rae and Tara Moore lost 5-7 7-5 6-3 to Timea Babos and Reka-Luca Jani in the doubles. So Hungary won this round 2-1.

GB were therefore 3rd in the group but at least avoided being in the relegation play offs.

In the Fed Cup there was an additional set of matches for GB yesterday for the 9th place play-off against Austria. GB won 2-0 (presumably the doubles match wasn't played as it would have made no difference.

Tara Moore (ranked 209) in her first Fed Cup match beat Tamira Paszek (ranked 217) 6-2 6-4. Then Heather Watson beat world number 38 Yvonne Meusburger 6-4 6-2 to claim her fourth singles victory of the week.

it is the first time in Heather Watson's career that she has beaten two top-40 players in the same week. So although there is disappointment for GB, for Heather Watson this must have been the best week personally in the last year.

During the last week Heather Watson has been playing in an ITF tournament at Midland in the States. The ITF is the tier below the WTA top tier. Although Heather Watson would normally be playing WTA tournaments, because of her illness for much of last season her rankings have crashed down. It is a sensible decision for Heather Watson as she has a much better chance of climbing back up the rankings this way.

She has continued her recent good form by beating Eleni Danilidou 6-1, 6-3 in the first round, Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-4 in the second round, Olga Vortsova 6-2=3, 6-2 in the quarter-final, Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final and Ksenia Pervak 6-1, 6-0 in the final so won this tournament without dropping a set.

That win has secured her 140 ranking points and her ranking has improved from 161 to 122 so she has almost caught up with Johanna Konta.

I think that her next tournament may be the Indian Wells WTA tournament at the beginning of March. Last year that was one of her last matches before she was diagnosed with glandular fever and she lost in the first round.

Heather Watson also won the doubles at the same Midland tournament along with Anna Tatishvili. That improves her doubles ranking from 143 to 116.

British number one Laura Robson has ruled herself out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March as she recovers from a wrist injury.

Robson, 20, has only completed one full match this year, at the Australian Open, and revealed on her Facebook site  she would not play in California.

She said: "I'm happy to report that I continue to progress with my wrist.

"But I'm still not ready to compete at the highest levels so I won't be playing in Indian Wells."

Robson was beaten 6-3 6-0 by Belgian 18th seed Kirsten Flipkens in the first round of the Australian Open in January.

In December, she pulled out of the ASB Classic in New Zealand because of a problem to her left wrist and week later quit the Hobart International with the same problem while leading her first-round match against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.

That was her first competitive outing since teaming up with American coach Nick Saviano in November.

Melbourne-born left-hander Robson, who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2013, has had wrist problems before. An injury to her right wrist forced the world number 56 to miss the Rogers Cup last August.

The main draw of the women's competition at Indian Wells gets under way on 5 March.

The latest entrant schedules does not include any women from this country. However Heather Watson has been handed a wildcard for the event.

The wildcard handed to Heather Watson is to the qualifying draw of the Indian Wells tournament, not the main draw. The qualifying matches take place on the 3rd and 4th.

Both Heather Watson and Johanna Konta won their first round of the qualifying matches at Indian Wells. Heather Watson beat Virginie Razzano 6-1, 6-4 and Johanna Konta beat Petra Martic 6-3, 4-6. 6-3.

In today's second round the draw is Heather Watson v Teliana Pereira and Casey Dellacqua v Johanna Konta. The winners qualify for the main tournament.

In the final round of qualifying Casey Dellacqua beat Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-3.

Heather Watson has qualified beating Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-2. In the first round of the main draw she plays Belinda Bencic. Belinda Bencic was given a wildcard to the main draw and is ranked 146 so Heather Watson would be expected to win. However whoever wins then has to face the world number 3 Agneska Radwanska.

Heather Watson reached the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a 7-5 6-4 victory over Swiss Belinda Bencic.

The British number three will now face Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat her at Wimbledon in 2012.

The 21-year-old said: "This will be a different atmosphere, but I'm really looking forward to playing her again."

Watson, who is currently ranked 134 after a disappointing 2013, added: "I'm so pleased with the way I'm playing at the moment."

Referring to her meeting with world number three Radwanska, who has comfortably beaten her in both their previous meetings, she said: "I'm not going to give away my tactics, but I'm not going to go in playing the same way I did the other two times."

Heather Watson is out of the BNP Paribas Open after a 6-4 6-3 second-round defeat by second seed Agnieszka Radwanska in Indian Wells, California.

Watson, 21, had lost her two previous matches against the Pole, including at Wimbledon in 2012.

But it was an encouraging display and continues her revival after battling to recover from glandular fever last year.

"I'm enjoying 2014, that's for sure - a lot more than 2013," said the British number three, ranked 134 in the world.

Watson struggled with her serve throughout but fought back from 3-0 down to level the first set 4-4 before losing it 6-4.

In the second, Watson was again broken early. This time she never got back on terms, though, as Radwanska's class shone through.

Watson has already won 15 matches this year, only one fewer than she managed in the whole of 2013, when her illness sapped her energy.

And victories in her first three matches at Indian Wells in straight sets, two in qualifying and then against 16-year-old Swiss Belinda Bencic in the first round on Wednesday, will have boosted her confidence.

She will now play in the main draw of the Sony Open in Miami in two weeks' time after being given a wild card.

"For me now going forward, all I can do is go up in the rankings, make points, do well," she said.

"And I feel like since the beginning of the year I'm just improving as every match goes along, and I'm starting to play better and better each tournament.

"I'll go back to Florida and get some good training in before Miami. I'm really looking forward to playing there.

"I have done well there in the past. I love the courts and I'm very motivated."

Watson came out firing against Radwanska, 25, on a sparsely populated Stadium 1, forcing two break points in the opening game. But she fired long on both and Radwanska made her pay by winning that opener and the subsequent two games.

Watson has worked hard on adding more power to her game but it was a perfect drop shot that set up the opportunity for her to claw her way back to 3-2.

The gameplan was to attack and she levelled at 4-4 after another break of serve apiece, but Radwanska showed her quality when it mattered to win the opener.

Watson called coach Diego Veronelli, who linked up with her at the end of last year, on court for a quick chat but his player then made a poor start to the second set, losing the first two games before rallying to get on the board at 2-1.

Thereafter, neither player could hold serve and Watson's frustration was clear as breaks in seven successive games kept her behind in the set. That left Radwanska serving for the match at 5-3 and the Pole at last produced a hold to seal it.

"I knew it was going to be a tough match," said Watson.

"I felt it was a lot different compared to the other times [against Radwanska]. I felt I was right in there. I had my chances, and I didn't feel I played that well. It was actually quite windy in there and I struggled with my serve a bit."

This sad news story may have affected Heather Watson's performance in the above match.

Former British tennis number one Elena Baltacha has been diagnosed with cancer of the liver.

Baltacha, who retired last year, won 11 singles titles, made the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and was part of Great Britain's Fed Cup team for 11 years.

"I'm currently undergoing treatment and fighting this illness with everything I have," said Ukraine-born Baltacha, 30.

Fed Cup captain Judy Murray added: "She's a determined, upbeat person and everyone around her is positive".

At the age of 19, Baltacha was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system.

The Scot went on to reach a career-high ranking of 49 in 2010, and also reached the third round of the Australian Open in 2005 and 2010, but often struggled with injury and illness.

Announcing her retirement last November, she revealed she planned to dedicate herself to coaching and developing the academy she founded in 2012 with her coach Nino Severino.  

"I still absolutely love tennis and I want to take that passion and put it into learning to be the best coach I can be so that I can take all my experiences as a player and use that to help develop the next generation of British tennis players," she said.

Her former Fed Cup team-mate Heather Watson said she was "shocked" to learn of Baltacha's cancer diagnosis.

The British number three said: "It's horrible news to hear and all of us are thinking of her.

"It's a shock to hear and I hope she has a good speedy recovery.

"Bally's a great spirit for Fed Cup and we all enjoy having her around, and all of us girls at the Fed Cup get along so well, so we'll all be thinking of her."

For several years Baltacha and Anne Keothavong were at the forefront of the women's game in Britain.

Keothavong, who retired in July 2013, sent a message of support to her old rival via Twitter. 

It read: "She's one of the people I most admire for her courage and determination. You'll fight through this @ElenaBaltacha xxx."

Current British number one Laura Robson tweeted: "Sending so many positive vibes your way Bally! You've got this xx."

Stacey Allaster, the chairman and chief executive of the WTA, added: "Throughout her tennis career, Elena was admired for her friendly personality, her passion, energy and tenacity.

"We know she will use these qualities to fight this illness and we'll support her along this process in any way we can."

Baltacha can look for inspiration to Great Britain Davis Cup player Ross Hutchins, who was appointed the new tournament director of the Queen's Club's Aegon Championships in London this week.

The 29-year-old had returned to action earlier this year with doubles partner Colin Fleming after recovering from Hodgkin's lymphoma - another form of cancer.

Hutchins was diagnosed with the illness in December 2012 but announced he was in remission in July.

Very sad news indeed! Best wishes to Elena and the hope that she will conquer this!

Before the emergence of Heather Watson and Laura Robson, Elena had consistently been our best female player for a long, long time and had it not been for the injuries and illness I’m sure she could have ranked higher…

Heather Watson rather unfortunate to come up against No.2 seed (and eventual tournament runner-up) Agnieszka Radwańska in the second round at Indian Wells last week – an easier draw may have seen her go on a nice run.

I agree. Heather Watson has beaten quite a few of the top 100 players in the last few weeks. Her ranking has improved from 134 to 121 as a result of the Indian Wells tournament. I think it quite likely that by the end of this year she will have got back into the top 64.

The Sony tournament in Miami is at the qualifying rounds at present. Heather Watson was given a wildcard to the main draw. Her first round is against one of the qualifiers later this week. The winner faces Kirsten Flipkens (ranked 23) in the second round.

Heather Watson was beaten 6-4, 6-0 in the first round at Miami, beaten by Virginie Razzano who she had beaten in the qualifying rounds at Indian Wells a couple of weeks ago.

Andy Murray and Martina Navratilova are among a host of tennis stars to pledge their support to a fundraising event for Elena Baltacha this summer.

Former British number one Baltacha, 30, was recently diagnosed with liver cancer, and the players will hold a 'Rally for Bally' on 15 June.

Navratilova overcame breast cancer in 2010 and will join the likes of Anne Keothavong, Tim Henman, Jamie Murray and Greg Rusedski in mixed doubles matches at Queen's Club, Birmingham and Eastbourne.

It follows a similar charity event last year after news that British doubles star Ross Hutchins had cancer.

"Cancer is an opponent we must fight against," 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova said. "My thoughts are with Elena and what she must be going through at this time.

"It is great the tennis world is coming together to support her, and to rally against cancer."

The proceeds will be split equally between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis.

British number one Laura Robson will miss the French Open and Wimbledon after having minor wrist surgery.

The 20-year-old world number 64 has completed just one match this year - a first-round defeat by Kirsten Flipkens at the Australian Open.

Writing on Facebook,  she said her surgeon, Dr Richard Berger, was "very confident" she will be back "pain-free before you even have time to miss me".

The Melbourne-born left-hander reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2013.

This year's French Open gets under way at Roland Garros on 25 May, with Wimbledon running from 23 June to 5 July.

Robson, who has been as high as 27 in the world, withdrew from the ASB Classic in New Zealand in December because of a problem with her left wrist.

A week later, she retired from the Hobart International with the same injury while leading her first-round match against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer. An injury to her right wrist also forced Robson to miss the Rogers Cup last August.

In March, Robson added Colombian Mauricio Hadad, who helped Maria Sharapova win Wimbledon in 2004, to her coaching team.

Russell Fuller BBC tennis correspondent

This year could be a virtual write-off for Laura Robson. Even if she is able to resume playing in time for August's US Open, she will struggle to make an impact with so few matches under her belt. It must be hard for her to see peers like Eugenie Bouchard reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open, and frustrating not to be able to get to work properly with her new coach, Mauricio Hadad. But she's in the best hands with Dr Richard Berger, who has also operated on both of Juan Martin del Potro's wrists.

Although I haven't seen any confirmation it looks as if Heather Watson isn't playing in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix which starts on Monday. She doesn't appear in the qualifying round list of contestants (Johanna Konta does) and hasn't received a wildcard into the main draw.

The reason why Heather Watson did poorly at Miami in March was because she suffered a shoulder injury and could only serve underarm.

Her apparent absence in the Porsche tournament is a bit concerning as that would be a natural tournament to enter in the run up to the French Open.

A bit more information on the "Rally for Bally" matches to take place:

Andy Murray, Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman will lead an all-star line up at exhibition matches in three of the country's biggest tournaments as British Tennis stages a second Rally Against Cancer charity event - 'Rally For Bally' - on Sunday 15th June. 

The ‘Rally For Bally’ will feature three mixed doubles matches - one each on finals day at the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club and the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, and another ahead of the Aegon International in Eastbourne - with proceeds being split equally between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis. Baltacha, or ‘Bally’ as she is known, revealed recently that she had been diagnosed with liver cancer. 

Murray and Aegon Championships Tournament Director Ross Hutchins will play on opposing mixed doubles teams at The Queen’s Club, 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, Anne Keothavong, Tim Henman and Jamie Murray will play in Birmingham, and Greg Rusedski and Jonny Marray will be on opposite teams in Eastbourne. Britain’s three highest ranked women, Laura Robson, Jo Konta and Heather Watson, will also take part, with the specific line-up of teams announced at a later date.

Judy Murray, the Great Britain Fed Cup captain, said: “Everyone in tennis knows and loves Bally and wants to help her, and sadly everyone's life is touched by cancer at some stage, whether personally or through friends and family. The Royal Marsden helps so many people in that situation. Bally set up her charity to help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds learn to play tennis, which says a lot about her. It will mean the world to her to know that is being supported as well."

Johanna Konta has won the first 2 matches in the qualifying stages of the Porsche tournament and has one match left to win to get through to the main round.

But she lost the third match in the qualifying stages.

Heather Watson is to return to action for the first time in almost two months at a tournament in France next week.

The British number three has been out since suffering a shoulder injury during her first round loss at the Sony Open in Miami in March.

Guernsey-born Watson, who suffered from glandular fever last year, will play in the Cagnes-sur-Mer Open.

It's an ITF tournament rather than a WTA one. Johanna Konta is also in it.

Heather Watson did win an ITF tournament in Michigan in February but she has not been playing matches for several weeks since then.

Very sad news

Former British number one tennis player Elena Baltacha has died of liver cancer, aged 30.

Born in Ukraine and raised in Scotland, Baltacha revealed she had the illness in March of this year.

Baltacha, who was British number one for nearly three years, retired from the sport in November 2013.

"We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," said husband Nino Severino, who was also her coach.

Baltacha learned she had liver cancer in mid-January 2014, two months after retiring from professional tennis and only a few weeks after marrying.

"She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness," added Severino.

Baltacha was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis,  a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system, aged 19.

Despite her illness and multiple injury problems, Baltacha went on to reach the Australian Open third round in 2005 and 2010 and reached a career-high world ranking of 49.

She won 11 singles titles, made the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and was part of Great Britain's Fed Cup team for 11 years.

The current women's British number one Laura Robson took to Twitter to pay tribute to her "team-mate".

She tweeted  : "Impossibly sad. Forever a team-mate. Sweet dreams Bally."

Tennis legend Chris Evert also tweeted her respects  : "Rest in Peace, beautiful Elena Baltacha...No words...Thoughts and prayers..."

Six-times Wimbledon Singles champion Billie Jean King tweeted:  "Saddened to hear about Elena Baltacha's passing. My fondest memory with Bally was sharing a wonderful chat when we met the Queen at Wimbledon."

Lawn Tennis Association head of women's tennis Iain Bates said: "We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis - a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend.

"We have so many special memories to cherish, but this leaves a gaping hole for everybody in both British and women's tennis, and words simply cannot express how saddened we are by this news.

"All our thoughts are with Nino and the rest of Elena's family. We will miss you Bal."

Chairman and chief executive of the World Tennis Association Stacey Allaster added: "We are deeply grieved to lose our friend Elena Baltacha in her battle with cancer. Elena's journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit."

Baltacha's agent and friend Eleanor Preston told Sky News: "It was part of Bally's emotional make-up to be very stoic, she never once asked why me or why is this happening. She was incredibly strong and determined and that was who she was.

"She achieved an awful lot and in the context of having a serious liver condition that she struggled with since the age of 19. This is why she should be held up as a role model.

"She went through it all without the slightest bit of self pity or ego."

A host of stars, including Andy Murray, Ross Hutchins, Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Jamie Murray, Jonny Marray, Anne Keothavong and Heather Watson have agreed to take part in a fundraising event, The Rally Against Cancer - Rally For Bally, which will now be held in her memory on 15 June.

The mixed doubles exhibition matches at the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club, the Aegon Classic in Birmingham and the Aegon International in Eastbourne will raise money for Royal Marsden national cancer charity and Elena Baltacha Foundation.

Heather Watson tweeted "We've lost our lovely Bally, too young. Rest in peace. My thought are with Nino and all of her family xx"

Many, many touching tributes from her peers throughout Monday and a minute's silence at the Madrid Open:

Judy Murray, the mother of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, has paid tribute to Elena Baltacha, who died of liver cancer at the age of 30 on Sunday.

Murray coached Baltacha as a junior in Scotland and then worked with her as captain of Britain's Fed Cup team.

"She was one in a million," said Murray. "An absolute gem."

She added it was "an awful loss" for tennis, those who knew and loved her, but most of all for her husband Nino Severino and her family.

She added: "I don't have the words to say what an incredible person Bally was, how loved she was or what an inspiration she will continue to be to everyone who met her."

Heather Watson returned to action for the first time in almost two months with victory over Italy's Giulia Gatto-Monticone in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.

The British number three had been out since suffering a shoulder injury during her first-round loss at the Sony Open in Miami in March.

Guernsey-born Watson, ranked 122, beat world number 215 Gatto-Monticone 6-4 7-6 (8-6) at the ITF clay-court event.

British number two Johanna Konta beat France's Myrtille Georges 6-2 6-1.

(although the BBC refers to Heather Watson in their reports as having had a shoulder injury, Heather Watson on her twitter page says that she had a rib injury)

Heather Watson (current world ranking 122) has won her second round match beating Claire Feuerstein (ranking 124) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. A good result considering she hasn't been playing for some weeks. Her quarter final match is against Kiki Bertens (ranked 151).

Johanna Konta's second round match is in progress.

Johanna Konta was beaten 4-6, 6-0, 4-6.

Heather Watson's return to action following two months out ended with a straight-sets quarter-final defeat by Kiki Bertens in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.

The Dutch player broke the Briton's serve six times on her way to a 6-3 6-1 win at the ITF clay-court event.

Bertens, 22, is ranked 29 places below Watson at 151 in the world but has now won all three of their matches.

Heather Watson is on the acceptance list for the main draw at the ITF tournament in Prague next week. She needs as many matches as possible in the build up to the French Open

Heather Watson's first round match in the ITF tournament in Prague was today.She was drawn against Klara Koukalova. This was a tough draw for year as Klara Koukalova was seeded 2, has a world ranking of 30, is playing in front of her home audience, and Heather Watson has only recently returned from injury.

Heather Watson beat Klara Koukalova 6-2, 6-4, an excellent result She's catching up with Johanna Konta in the rankings and I think will become the number 2 if she wins the second round match.

Heather Watson won her second round match in Prague today beating Petra Uberalova 6-1, 6-4. Petra Uberalova is not high in the ratings so this was the expected result.

The quarter final will be against Karoline Pliskova who is ranked 62 in the world rankings.

Heather Watson has beaten Karolina Pliskova 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter finals in Prague. I think this could mean that she gets back into the top 100 rankings or very very close.