Tennis: Britain's Cup opener

BRITAIN will attempt to take the first step back to the World Group of the Davis Cup with a tie against either Finland, at home, or Hungary, away, in the Euro-African Zone next April, writes John Roberts. Britain have a bye in the first round, in which Hungary are at home to Finland in March.

Defeat in India in September relegated Britain from the World Group. They have beaten Finland twice in the past four years, in Bristol and in Helsinki, and won their last tie against the Hungarians in Budapest in 1966.

WORLD GROUP Australia v United States; Italy v Brazil; India v Switzerland; Austria v France; Spain v Netherlands; Sweden v Cuba; Denmark v Czechoslovakia; Russia v Germany. (Ties to be played from 26 to 28 March).

EURO/AFRICAN GROUP ONE Zone B: First round: Hungary v Finland; Norway v Zimbabwe. (Ties to be played from 26 to 28 March). Second round: Great Britain v Hungary or Finland; Norway or Zimbabwe v Croatia. (Ties to be played from 30 April to 2 May).