Britain to face Swedes (From News Shopper)

Britain to face Swedes

2:08pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2011

Great Britain have been drawn away to Sweden in the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs on April 21-22.

Judy Murray's side beat Austria in Israel earlier this month to give them the opportunity of climbing into the second tier of world team tennis. Victories over Portugal, Holland and Israel in the pool stages set up the Euro/Africa Zone Group I play-off against the Austrians.

The likely British quartet of Anne Keothavong, Elena Baltacha, Laura Robson and Heather Watson will face a Swedish team seeking an immediate return to World Group II after being relegated last year.

Sweden's highest ranked player is world number Johanna Larsson while Sofia Arvidsson also sits inside the top 100, positioned at 74. The Scandinavians, who are four times Fed Cup quarter-finalists, won all four of their matches in Europe/Africa Group I.

Murray, appointed captain in December, expects a finely-balanced tie between two well-matched teams.

"Sweden's top two players, Johanna Larsson and Sofia Arvidsson, are similar in ranking to our top two players, Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong, so it should be an interesting match up," she said.

"Heather Watson and Laura Robson are very close to them in rankings as well, so we have strength in depth which is a big advantage as the play-offs are best of five rubbers over two days.

"We are looking forward to it as it's a big opportunity for GB to grab a place in World Group II."

Two singles rubbers will be staged on Saturday April 21 with each nation's number one player facing the other's number two, before the two singles matches are reversed a day later.

These will then be followed a doubles match to decide the final score in the best of five rubbers contest.