Romania's Billie Jean King Cup team achieved its first victory » Next is the confrontation with France

Carmen Herea, Ruxandra Bertea and the duo of Ilinca Amariei and Anamaria Oana brought the first victory for Romania in Group C of Group I, Europe/Africa area, beating Norway 3-0 on clay, in Oeiras (Portugal).

Herea (553 WTA) and Bertea (292 WTA) brought two singles points, defeating Katja Wiersholm (unranked in singles) 6-3, 6-4 and Malene Helgo (782 WTA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday evening. Ilinca Amariei (481 WTA) and Anamaria Oana (687 WTA) passed Astrid Wanja Brune Olsen (815 WTA) / Katja Wiersholm (1445 WTA) 6-2, 6-4.

The Romanian team

• Ruxandra Bertea – 19 years old, 292nd place WTA

• Gabriela Lee – 30 years old, 349th place WTA

• Ilinca Amariei – 23 years old, 481st place WTA

• Carmen Herea – 20 years old, 553rd place WTA

• Anamaria Oana – 18 years old, 687th place WTA

France, authoritative leader in Group C

In Group C, Romania was defeated by Latvia 2-1 and will play against France on Thursday. The girls led by Alizé Cornet beat Norway and Latvia 3-0 and 3-0. The Hexagon team consists of Elsa Jacquemot (63 WTA), Léolia Jeanjean (124 WTA), Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah (131 WTA), Alice Ramé (197 WTA) and Kristina Mladenovic (79 WTA in doubles).

In total, there are seven such groups: four in this geographical part, two others in the Americas and one in Asia-Oceania. The winners of each series will contest a promotion play-off, first A1 vs. D1 and B1 vs. C1 (on April 10), then the losers of those duels will play each other for the last remaining spot on April 11.

There will also be relegation play-offs: A3 vs. D4 and B3 vs. C4 on April 10 and A4 vs. B3, respectively B4 vs. C3, on April 11. The 2nd place teams will have placement matches, A2 with D2 and B2 with C2.

Romania currently occupies the second position in the Group C ranking and will most likely contest a relegation play-off if they do not beat France.

Phase I groups, by region

• Europe-Africa

• Group A » Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Lithuania

• Group B » The Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Georgia

• Group C » Romania, France, Latvia, Norway

• Group D » Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden

• Americas

• Group A » Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru

• Group B » Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador

• Asia-Oceania

• Group A » India, Indonesia, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Thailand (promotes two teams)