Australia face a challenge in seeking to reclaim their place among the Fed Cup elite after they drew India in the Asia/Oceania zone group I in Bangkok on Tuesday. Australia, who lost their top player Samantha Stosur to an injury received in the Australian Open, drew against India, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Captain David Taylor said his side were in a tough draw with Sania Mirza playing for India, but said he still expected to return to the World Group after being knocked out last year by Ukraine.
"Without Stosur, we still have top players and we still have confidence to get through it," he said. "It is not easy and of course we do have that pressure," Taylor added. Alicia Molik, Nicole Pratt, Casey Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs were named for the Australia squad.
The tournament's first seed will play New Zealand in the opening match Wednesday, while host nation Thailand will play Hong Kong. Second seed Taipei, listed in the same pool as Thailand, will play Uzbekistan while India take on Indonesia. Thailand team supervisor Phisanu Arthakornsiripho said he hoped Thailand would emerge as the winner of Pool B and hand Australia another surprise defeat. In group II, South Korea will take Syria, Turkmenistan will play Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka will play Singapore.
ASIA/OCENIA GROUP I:
-- Australia v New Zealand
-- India v Indonesia
-- Uzbekistan v Taiwan
-- Thailand v Hong Kong
-- Asia/Ocenia Group II:
-- South Korea v Syria
-- Turkmenistan v Kazakhstan
-- Sri Lanka v Singapore.
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