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Blow for SA's Fed Cup team

Johannesburg - The South African Fed Cup team will be without the promising lze Hattingh for their Euro Africa Group two tie against Lithuania starting on Wednesday.

The South African captain, John-Laffnie de Jager, confirmed African Junior Champion Hattingh had been replaced in his team by top junior Madrie Le Roux.

"It was a big loss for us to lose Ilze" said De Jager.

"Ilze only lost one match last year during Fed Cup and played such a key role in our good run."

Hattingh was forced to withdraw from the side due to a back injury. Le Roux is a top junior player who with Hattingh lifted the African junior doubles title.

"Madrie will play alongside the experienced Natalie Grandin in the doubles" said De Jager.

Joining Grandin and Le Roux will be the rising South Africa star Chanel Simmonds. De Jager said Simmonds was in good form and was enjoying the clay.

The last member of the South African team is Lyn Kiro.

"Things are good and we are very happy with the draw and the group we have been drawn into," said De Jager.

"We have a solid team and the girls and I are looking forward to the week and making South Africa proud."

The draw for the round robin tournament was conducted in Ulcinj, Montenegro at the Bellevue Club on Tuesday.

South Africa were drawn in the same group as Greece and hosts Montenegro in Pool B of the tournament which will be played from Wednesday to Sunday.

The eight teams in the Euro Africa Group two have been drawn into two pools of four teams.

The winner of each pool will play off against the number two team in the other pool to determine which two teams will advance to the Europe/Africa Zone Group one in 2014.

The nations in third place in each pool will play-off against the nations in fourth position in the other pool to determine which two teams will be relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group III in 2014.

The SA team:

Chanel Simmonds, Lynn Kiro, Natalie Grandin, Madrie Le Roux, John-Laffnie de Jager (captain).

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