Fed Cup: Draws announced for Zone Group I events

The three Zone Group events are Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Tallinn, Estonia; Americas Zone Group I in Metepec, Mexico; and Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Published : Jan 16, 2017 22:57 IST

Czech Republic's players celebrate their victory over France during the Fed Cup final in Strasbourg, on November 13, 2016. Czech Republic retained its Fed Cup title.
Czech Republic's players celebrate their victory over France during the Fed Cup final in Strasbourg, on November 13, 2016. Czech Republic retained its Fed Cup title.
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Czech Republic's players celebrate their victory over France during the Fed Cup final in Strasbourg, on November 13, 2016. Czech Republic retained its Fed Cup title.

The ITF has announced the official draws for the three Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Zone Group I events taking place onFebruary 6-11.

The three Zone Group events are Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Tallinn, Estonia; Americas Zone Group I in Metepec, Mexico; and Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in Astana, Kazakhstan.

In Europe/Africa I, which takes place from February 8-11, top seeds Poland find themselves drawn against Georgia and Austria in Pool A, while Croatia will battle it out against Hungary and Bosnia/Herzegovina in Pool B.

Great Britain, seeded No. 3, has been drawn to face Turkey, Latvia and Portugal in Pool C. Over in Pool D, Serbia, Israel, Bulgaria and hosts Estonia will be fighting for a place in the promotion play-offs.

The winner of Pool A will play the winner of Pool D and the winner of Pool B will play the winner of Pool C with a place in the World Group II play-offs on April 22-23 at stake.

In Americas Zone Group I, which starts on February 6, top seeds Canada head into Pool A against Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela, while Pool B sees last year's Americas Zone Group I winners Argentina drawn against Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile.

Asia/Oceania Zone Group I takes place on February 8-11 and it will be Thailand, hosts Kazakhstan and Korea Republic fighting for the top spot in Pool A. China, P.R., Japan, India and Philippines will contest Pool B.

All nations contesting the Zone Group I events will be bidding to qualify for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs on April 22-23, with two teams qualifying from the Europe/Africa Zone, and one team from both the Americas and Asia/Oceania Zones.

World No. 10 Johanna Konta is one of eight Top 50 players contesting Zone Group I this year. The British No. 1 is joined in Europe/Africa Zone Group I by Hungary’s Timea Babos, Croatia’s Ana Konjuh and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, while in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I, hosts Kazakhstan have named Yuliya Putintseva and Yaroslava Shvedova, with Japan being led by Misaki Doi and Naomi Osaka.

The Zone Group I events are taking place the same week as the World Group and World Group II first round ties, which are being contested on February 11-12. Nominations for those ties will be announced on Wednesday, February 1.

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