The Egyptian women's tennis team lost 3-0 to Austria on Wednesday in the opener of the Fed Cup, considered the World Cup of Women's Tennis.

Egypt's team was represented by four players; Sandra Samir, Lamis Abdel-Aziz, Dina Abu Habaga and Laila El-Nimr.

The Egyptians' next match will be against Bosnia/Herzegovina on Thursday.

Egypt is hosting the prestigious tennis event at Cairo's El-Gezira Club from 13 to 16 April.

The Egyptian team is the only Arab country participating in the tournament's Europe/Africa Group II, coming in Pool B alongside Liechtenstein, Austria and Bosnia/Herzegovina.

Finland, Lithuania and Denmark are the only teams in Pool A as Solvenia announced its withdrawal earlier in March due to security concerns.

The winner of each pool will play off against the number two team in the other pool (A1 v B2 and B1 v A2) to determine which two nations will advance to the Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2017.

The nations in third place in each group will play off against each other to determine which nation will be relegated to the Europe/Africa Zone Group III in 2017.

The nation finishing fourth in pool B will be automatically relegated to the Europe/Africa Zone Group III in 2017.

The Egyptian women's team is placed 65 in the world ranking.

Also at the opening day, Denmark defeated Lithuania 3-0.

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