The AEGON GB Fed Cup Team back in action

Great Britain will take part in the Europe/Africa Zone Group again this year, playing in Israel from 1 to 4 February.

The AEGON GB Fed Cup Team will consist of Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. Tara Moore will travel as the reserve player. The team will be led by Judy Murray, following her appointment as Team Captain in December.

Commenting on the selections, Judy Murray said: ‘Our team is an exciting mix of youth and experience. In Elena and Anne we’re lucky to have two established Tour players who are great competitors and so passionate about representing their country.

‘With Heather, Laura and Tara, we have three young and very promising players who will bring a lot of energy to the team and will be looking to make their marks in this event. Our goal is to progress through the group and while we know this will be tough, if we play to our potential, it is achievable.’

2011 was a successful year for the top British female players. Elena Baltacha finished the year inside the world’s top 50 and Anne Keothavong triumphed in her final two tournaments of the year at Ismaning ($50,000) and at the AEGON GB Pro-Series Barnstaple ($75,000), while also reaching the WTA semi-final at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open. Heather Watson broke into the world’s top 100 for the first time in her career, reaching 87, while Laura Robson hit a career high of 131. Tara Moore also reached a career high of 310.

The AEGON GB Fed Cup Team will contest the Europe/Africa Zone Group I, alongside 14 other nations all vying to take the top two spots and progress to the World Group II playoffs in April.

As the team sponsor, we’d like to wish the AEGON GB Fed Cup Team every success.

The Fed Cup

The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the premier annual team competition in women’s tennis. The women’s equivalent of the Davis Cup, it sees the world’s top players competing for their countries.

Around 90 nations compete each year in the Fed Cup. Only the top 16 nations make up the elite divisions – eight each in the World Group and World Group II.

Beyond the World Groups, nations compete in three regional or ‘Zonal’ Groups: the Americas Zone, Asia/Oceania Zone and Europe/Africa Zone. Each Zone is further divided into two different levels, Group I and Group II, except the Europe/Africa Zone, which has a third level, Group III.

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