Great Britain have competed in every Fed Cup competition since its inception in 1963 and although they have never won the competition, they came close on four occasions in the golden era of Virginia Wade.

Wade was 18 years old when Great Britain reached their first final in 1967. Playing against the United States in Berlin, Wade was beaten by Rosie Casals while team-mate Ann Jones lost to Billie Jean King.

Four years later in Perth, Australia, the British team managed to reach another final, but the host nation proved too strong, with wins for Evonne Goolagong and Margaret Court.

Britain came closest the following year, in Johannesburg in 1972, when Wade got her team off to a perfect start with a singles win over the host nation's Patricia Walkden. Winnie Shaw moved Britain within one set of victory when she won the first set of the second rubber against Brenda Kirk, but she was eventually beaten 4-6 7-5 6-0 and South Africa won the deciding doubles rubber in straight sets.

Great Britain's last final appearance was in Tokyo in 1981, when Wade's Great Britain team were beaten by a strong United States Andrea Jaeger beating Wade and Chris Evert Lloyd overcoming Sue Barker.

In recent years Great Britain's Fed Cup profile has faded, but with the emergence of a new generation of female talent headed by Anne Keothavong, hopes are high that the best of Britain's Fed Cup performances are yet to come.