What is the Fed Cup?
The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of women’s tennis. It offers players from around the world the chance to represent their country and, with more than 100 nations involved, is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport.
For the first time since 1993, Great Britain hosted a Fed Cup tie at home after being awarded the event by the International Tennis Federation. The Europe/Africa Group I tie took place at University of Bath from 6-9 February. Packed crowds cheered on the Great Britain team as they came out on top against Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. This means that Great Britain will now face Kazakhstan at home in the upcoming World Group II Play-Off, taking place 20-21 April 2019. The Play-Off will mark the first ever head-to-head between the two nations.
How does the Fed Cup work?
The Fed Cup is structured with an eight-nation World Group and an eight-nation World Group II. The remaining countries are then divided into three regional Zones depending on their location – Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe/Africa. Great Britain are currently in Europe/Africa Zone Group I, and are aiming to win a return to the World Group for the first time since 1993.
Promotion and relegation between World Group II and the regional Zones is decided by play-off ties, with losers from the first round of World Group II matches taking on the winners of the regional Zone Group I ties for a place in World Group II the following year.
Read more about the Fed Cup and the competition structure on the official Fed Cup website.
What's at stake?
The winning team from the play-off match between Great Britain and Kazakhstan in April will earn promotion to the World Group II for 2020.
How is the play-offs contested?
The play-offs are held over two days with the following format:
Day 1 - Saturday 20 April
Day 2 - Sunday 21 April
- Two singles matches & one doubles match (subject to dead rubber policy*)
Who's in the British team?
Alongside established names, Great Britain has a new crop of talented young players breaking onto the world stage, giving the team a real blend of youth and experience.
The team for the tie in April against Kazakhstan will be announced shortly.
Get to know the British players who played in February by reading our Fed Cup player profiles!
*Dead Rubber Policy
For all Ties in the World Group and World Group II;
With respect to the second day, if the third singles decides the outcome of the Tie, the fourth singles match will not be played and the dead rubber doubles match will be played instead. If the fourth singles match decides the outcome of the Tie the dead rubber doubles match will be played. A dead doubles match will be played according to the “No-Ad” scoring method set out in the Rules of Tennis. If a dead doubles match reaches one set all, the third set will be a match tie break (10 points).