The New Zealand Fed Cup team have begun preparation for their stern challenge in the Asia/Oceania Group One tournament in Seoul next week.
Marina Erakovic, Leanne Baker and Ellen Barry had a warm-up session yesterday and Kairangi Vano will join the team this week after school exams.
New Zealand faces
a challenge to remain in the strong Group One of seven nations. However, they are capable of upsets, something non-playing captain, Pavlina Nola believes they can achieve.
"We have a good No 1 and 2. Marina can hold her own singles against the other top players and Leanne is capable at two.
"I have had the team for three years and this is the first time we've been able to get together to train prior to going to the Fed Cup. Usually everyone comes directly to the tournament from all over the world," says Nola, who was a former top-70 player for Bulgaria and New Zealand.
Australia and India, probably the top two seeds, head the seven nations followed by Korea and Chinese Taipei with New Zealand and Uzbekistan rated next followed by the weaker Philippines combination.
There will be one group of three and one group of four in a round-robin series.
The winner of each pool will play off against each other to determine which nation gets promoted to the World Group Two play-offs in July. The last team in each pool will be relegated to the Asia/Oceania Group Two in 2007.
"It's tough with less teams in the group. Korea and Chinese Taipei are solid, but Marina has beaten some of their players," said Nola, who will have former pro and Kiwi Fed Cup player Niki Tippins assisting her in Seoul. Australia have top-60 player Sam Stosur as their No 1, followed by former top-50 player Nicole Pratt, while India have new star and world No 39 Sania Mirza.
Erakovic is 219, Baker is 374 in singles and 233 in doubles. Barry and Vano are yet to obtain a WTA ranking.
Erakovic has recovered from a spate of injuries to make two Challenger quarter-finals and one semifinal.
Baker won the two singles titles at Futures events in New Zealand and has also found some doubles form again.
The team flies out on Saturday with the event starting on April 19.
