THE ‘World Cup of Tennis’ arrives in Somerset next month, the Fed Cup welcoming the world’s best in women’s tennis to Bath from February 6-9, writes Alfie House.

Five players, named by captain Anne Keothavong, will represent Great Britain in Europe/Africa Group I against Hungary, Greece and Slovenia, as they seek to qualify for the play-offs.

Johanna Konta is currently GB’s number one, sitting at 38 in the world rankings.

Sydney-born Konta, 27, reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2017 and represented Team GB in the 2016 Olympics.

After a less successful 2018 she was the last Briton standing at this month’s Australian Open, before a 3am exit to 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza.

Katie Swan, aged 19 and born in Bristol, ranks 175 in the world.

Swan was forced to retire at the Australian open qualifiers on January 9 due to injury, but thankfully for GB she won’t miss the Fed Cup.

Katie Boulter, meanwhile, has won five singles and four doubles titles on the ITF circuit.

The 22-year-old from Leicester sits just in the top 100 players in the world (no. 97), and in January reached the Round of 64 at the Australian Open.

Former British number one Heather Watson, 26, will also play in Bath.

She stands at world no. 108, but will be remembered for her 2016 Wimbledon mixed doubles win alongside Henri Kontentin.

Finally, 22-year-old Harriet Dart, from London, is enjoying a career-high ranking of 131.

Dart was recently eliminated from the Australian Open by household name Maria Sharapova.

GB’s path to the play-off is by no means straightforward, however, as they will face world no. 43 Maria Sakkari from Greece, one of the higher ranked players in the event.

Sakkari exited the Australian Open in the Round of 32, losing to Ashleigh Barty.

Reigning Australian Open doubles champion Timea Babos will lead the line for Hungary, while 27-year-old Dalila Jakupovic will represent Slovenia, currently standing at no. 83 in the world rankings.

Great Britain will hope to progress through to face either Croatia, Turkey, Georgia or Serbia in the play-offs, as the Fed Cup arrives on home soil for the first time in 26 years.

The aim is to reach April’s World Group II play-offs, and ultimately compete for eight spots in the elite World Group.

The event is held at the University of Bath, and single session, full day and season tickets are available via www.lta.org.uk/fedcuptickets.