Murray’s GB team head to Budapest for Fed Cup

Judy Murray will take Great Britain to Budapest in February to begin their latest attempt to climb the Fed Cup ladder.

Judy Murray coaches youngsters earlier this year. Picture: Getty

A team of Heather Watson, Laura Robson, Anne Keothavong and Johanna Konta successfully negotiated the Europe/Africa Group I stage this year, beating Portugal, Hungary, Bosnia/Herzegovina and Bulgaria.

But then, with the unwell Watson replaced by Elena Baltacha, Britain lost a World Group II play-off 3-1 to Argentina in April.

The loss in Buenos Aires left Britain back where they began at the start of the year, still looking to clamber out of the Europe/Africa zone and into the second tier of the elite level.

The International Tennis Federation confirmed on Thursday the Europe/Africa Group I matches will be played in the Hungarian capital in the week commencing 3 February, 2014.

Should the team captained by Murray – mother of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray – come through the Budapest stage, they would face another World Group II play-off on 19-20 April.

Countries including Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands and Belarus – for whom world No 2 Victoria Azarenka has not played in the last two years – will attempt to block Britain’s path.