The national women's tennis team under captain Tran Quoc Phong (left) and coach Nghe Phat Dat pose for photograph at the HCM City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport before departing for Kazakhstan tournament. — Photo vtf

HA NOI (VNS) — The national women's tennis team will play their first match of the Fed Cup's Group II Asia/Oceania zone qualification on February 4 in Astana City, Kazakhstan.

Thirteen teams from the group will be divided into four pools and will compete in a round robin format.

The four winners of each pool will then playoff to determine which nation advances to the Group I in 2015.

The tournament will conclude on February 8.

Playing without their two best athletes, Huynh Phuong Dai Trang and Nguyen Ai Ngoc Van, who withdrew because of being on tours abroad, the Vietnamese team set a target of finishing among the top eight.

"It is the first time I have competed at the Fed Cup. I do not known if I can play well, but I will try my best," said Dao Minh Trang, 17, the youngest member.

Meanwhile, national champion Huynh Phi Khanh, who has to assume the heaviest burden as the key player for the first time, said she was somewhat worried and pressured due to Dai Trang's absence. However, she added that she hoped for better results because she worked very hard before and during the Tet holiday. — VNS