Romanian tennis players Simona Halep (in picture), number 11 WTA, Sorana Cîrstea - 22 WTA and Irina Camelia Begu , number 129 in the WTA ranking will represent the country at the Fed Cup groups leg in Budapest.

The Romanian team, led by captain Alina Tecşor Cercel, will compete against teams from 15 other countries between February 4 and 9.

The draw to establish the competing groups will take place on January 13.

Fed Cup was launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation, and has since been a women-only team competition.

Many tennis all-time greats, along with the current crop of talent, have featured in the competition throughout its history. Billie-Jean King, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Conchita Martinez and Martina Hingis all enjoyed successful Fed Cup careers.

Simona Halep, on the brink of entering the top 10 best players in the world, has been named the Women’s Tennis Association’s Most Improved Player Of The Year. Only two Romanians have ever made the Top 10 on the WTA, namely Virginia Ruzici, who got to No.8, and Irina Spirlea, who got to No.7.

editor@romania-insider.com