Holders France grouped with Russia for Fed Cup Finals

Budapest: Holders France will face a strong Russia side and hosts Hungary in the group stage of the inaugural version of the $18 million Fed Cup Finals to be held in Budapest from April 14-19.

France, who beat Australia in the last final of the 57-year-old team event’s previous format in November, are one of four nations who qualified automatically for the 12-nation event to be staged on clay at the Laszlo Papp Sports Arena.

Hungary, as hosts, Australia as runners-up and 11-times winners Czech Republic, as a wild card, were the other three.

Tuesday’s draw held in Budapest’s majestic Museum of Fine Arts paired record 18-times Fed Cup champions United States with Slovakia and five-times winners Spain who will fancy their chances on their favoured red dust.

Last year’s runners-up Australia face Belgium and surprise finalists Belarus in Group B.

Czech Republic face Germany and Switzerland in Group D.

The four group winners will go through to the semi-finals followed by a final. Individual ties will consist of two singles matches followed by a doubles.

The Fed Cup’s new format, which saw eight nations qualify through playoffs last weekend, is something of a throwback to the first edition in 1963 when 16 nations played over a week at London’s Queen’s Club with United States, featuring Billie Jean King, beating Australia in the final.

The competing players at the week-long event will split $12 million with the other $6 million going to federations. Agencies

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