sport news Anne Keothavong calls for calm as Great Britain prepare for Fed Cup play-off ...

'We all know what she's like': Anne Keothavong calls for calm as Great Britain prepare for Fed Cup promotion play-off against Kazakhstan - with Yulia Putintseva labelled a big threat Great Britain are preparing for Fed Cup promotion play-off against Kazakhstan  Captain Anne Keothavong wants her team to ignore antics of Yulia Putintseva  Putintseva is the biggest threat to GB's chances of returning to the World Cup

By Mike Dickson for the Daily Mail

Published: 21:06 BST, 19 April 2019 | Updated: 21:08 BST, 19 April 2019

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Anne Keothavong has warned her players not to let the feisty behaviour of Kazakhstan's pocket battleship Yulia Putintseva distract them during this weekend's Fed Cup promotion playoff.

If yesterday's salvos in the media conferences are anything to go by we could be in for a combustible weekend, as players nerves are stretched inside the packed confines of the Copper Box at London's Olympic Park.

Putintseva, a 5' 4' ball of energy ranked 38, is the severest threat to the GB team's hopes of returning to the elite World Group level of the main team competition in women's tennis.

Heather Watson (left) and Katie Swan share a joke as Great Britain prepare to face Kazhakstan

Heather Watson (left) and Katie Swan share a joke as Great Britain prepare to face Kazhakstan

Captain Anne Keothavong was a hands-on presence as she helped her charges prepare

Captain Anne Keothavong was a hands-on presence as she helped her charges prepare

After coming through the group stages during a surprisingly raucous week in Bath two months ago, Keothavong knows that Putintseva - renowned on tour for getting up opponent's noses - will test her team's composure.

SCHEDULE (BT SPORT)

SATURDAY - 1:30pm: 

Jo Konta (46) v Zarina Dyas (107), 

K. Boulter (86) v Y. Putintseva (38). 

SUNDAY 12pm: 

 Konta v Putintseva, 

Boulter v Diyas

Followed by doubles. 

'We all know what she's like. But the players are professional, you know what's coming but it's important that they stay in their little own bubble and don't rise to her bait,' said the GB Captain.

'That's what's got her to where she is. 

She's got tremendous character, a huge personality on the court. 

But we've got fantastic competitors in the team who are capable of dealing

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