Favourable Fed Cup draw for SA
The South African Fed Cup team was given a favourable draw for this week's Euro Africa Group 2 tournament to be played in Siauliai, Lithuania, from April 16 to 19.
Picture: AFP.
The draw, conducted on Tuesday, saw South Africa drawn in Pool B with seeded Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Egypt.
Montenegro are seeded in Pool B and have Finland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein in their pool.
The tournament, to be played on hard court, will be contested on a round-robin basis in each pool of four teams.
The winner of Pool A will play-off against the runner-up of Pool B and the winner of Pool B will play-off against the runner-up of Pool A to determine which two nations will advance to Euro/Africa Group 1 in 2015.
The nation in third place in Pool A will play-off against the nation in fourth place in Pool B and the nation in third place in Pool B will play-off against the nation in fourth place in Pool A to determine which two nations will be relegated to Euro/Africa Zone Group 3 in 2015.
At the conclusion of the competition, two countries will be promoted and two countries relegated.
South African captain Earl Grainger said the draw was “favourable” for South Africa but warned that the competition was tough.
“Actually, in this type of competition there is no good draw,” Grainger said.
“Each draw is tough as you have a gruelling three days of round-robin competition where every rubber played in each tie is important.
“We have prepared well, are happy with the conditions and are ready to give our very best for the country.
“Hopefully, come Sunday, we will gain promotion to Group 1 which is our aim and objective.”
South African team: Chanel Simmonds, Madrie le Roux, Natasha Fourouclas, Natalie Grandin and Earl Grainger (captain).
South Africa open their campaign against Bosnia and Hercegovina at 11am on Wednesday.
– Sapa
