Tennis: Bates handed British duty in Hungary

JEREMY BATES will spearhead Britain's Davis Cup challenge in the Euro-Africa zone match with Hungary in Budapest from 30 April to 2 May.

The British No 1 is joined by Mark Petchey, Chris Bailey and Chris Wilkinson in the team announced by the Davis Cup captain, Tony Pickard, yesterday.

The omission of Neil Broad is the only change from the party humbled in India last September - a defeat which plunged Britain into the competition's second division. 'The team picks itself. Neil has not been picked because we are playing on clay and he has not been playing well,' Pickard said.

Britain's women have been drawn in a difficult qualifying group in their attempt to reach the Federation Cup finals in Frankfurt in July. Britain must play Luxembourg, Ukraine, Russia and Lithuania, in the opening games in Nottingham.

GREAT BRITAIN DAVIS CUP TEAM: J Bates (Surrey; singles ranking 81), C Wilkinson (Hants; 165), M Petchey (Essex; 224), C Bailey (Norfolk; 285).

GREAT BRITAN FEDERATION CUP TEAM (Europe/Africa qualifying tournament in Nottingham on May 10-16): J Durie, M Javer, C Wood, A Grunfeld.

FEDERATION CUP: Draw for the Europe/Africa qualifying competition, Nottingham; 10-16 May) Group A: CROATIA, Estonia, Turkey, Malta. Group B: BELGIUM, Ireland, Norway, Senegal. Group C: GREAT BRITAIN, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania. Group D: LATVIA, Egypt, Romania, Portugal, Hungary. Group E: SLOVENIA, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Israel, Greece. (Seeds in caps; top two from each group qualify for knock-out stage; five winning teams qualify for finals in Frankfurt in July).