Hayman part of Fed Cup team

Wanganui's Emma Hayman has been named in the New Zealand Configure Express Fed Cup tennis team to take on Kazakhstan in early February.

Meanwhile, teenager Paige Hourigan will also join Hayman in representing New Zealand as they take on the state teams of the Australian Tennis League (ATL) during the Australian Open in the next two weeks.

The 24-year-old Hayman is part of a new-look Fed Cup team led by world No 67 Marina Erakovic, joining top 100 ranked junior Emily Fanning from Timaru and Auckland's Abigail Guthrie.

Hayman and Guthrie, 22, won the women's doubles title together at the New Zealand Championships on December 23.

"Abi and Emma are a good doubles combination and a great team players. I think it's a good solid team all round," said Fed Cup captain, Pavlina Nola.

Fanning, 17, has reached as high as 38 in the world junior rankings and will play in the Australian Open juniors, with Nola pleased the teenager has gotten over some niggling injuries.

"It's [also] great to have Marina in the team," Nola said.

"She brings such a wealth of experience to the side and obviously she's ranked in the top 100 players in the world so she is a standout player."

They will travel to Kazakhstan to play the Asia/Oceania Group II clash, looking to force their way back into Group I in 2014.

New Zealand will be aiming to gain the number one promotion spot from a round-robin of two pools of six teams in Group II.

Hayman, Guthrie and Fanning will get ample preparation as they are joined by Hourigan and Auckland's Claudia Williams in the New Zealand team which will play in the ATL.

This competition is held during the Australian Open at Melbourne Park between the best state sides in Australia and New Zealand.

The team have been practicing together and competing in the ASB Classic qualifying as well as main draw doubles.