Captain Judy Murray learns GB Fed Cup opponents
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Great Britain have been drawn in the same group as the Netherlands, Israel and Portugal for Judy Murray's first tie as Fed Cup captain.
Fifteen teams will take part in the Europe/Africa Zone Group One event in Israel from 1-4 February, with two promotion places on offer.
Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson have already been named in the GB squad.
"Our group is challenging," Murray told the LTA website.
"There are some very good players in the opposing teams but we have a strong squad and will use the next few weeks to scout our opponents and prepare the girls for Eilat."
Britain currently has two players in the world's top 100 in Baltacha (53) and Keothavong (75), while the Netherlands have Arantxa Rus (79) and Michaella Krajicek (91).
Shahar Peer is the highest-ranked player in the group at 37, but Israel's number two, Julia Glushko, is 209th in the world, while Portugal's number one, Michelle Larcher de Brito, is ranked 148.
The other countries taking part are Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Sweden.
Four group winners will go through to play-offs, with the two winners qualifying for the World Group II play-offs, and the four nations finishing last in each pool will play off to decide which two nations are relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2013.
Europe/Africa Zone Group One (1-4 February, Eilat, Israel):
Pool A
Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria
Pool B
Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Bosnia/Herzegovina
Pool C
Netherlands, Great Britain, Israel, Portugal
Pool D
Poland, Romania, Croatia, Luxembourg
