Anne Keothavong was a playing member of Great Britain's Fed Cup team when they made the trip to Sweden for the 2012 World Group play-off.
Seven years, and three further play-off disappointments later, she is now the captain of a side which finally has the chance to discover whether it can be competitive against the world's elite.
GB's 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan at London's Copper Box Arena ensures a return to World Group level of the Fed Cup for the first time since 1993.
The format for next year's competition is far from signed off. But, for the first time in a generation, Britain will at least start the year with a theoretical chance of lifting the trophy.