The Chinese women's tennis team will face a tough challenge from their European rivals at the 2007 Fed Cup.

Ranked seventh on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Rankings, China failed to earn a seed place at the largest annual international women's team competition.

Belgium and Italy, the finalists of this year's event, are seeded number one and number two in the 2007 World Group, followed by 2005 champion Russia and France.

The Chinese team will draw to challenge one of the four European giants.

The draw for the 2007 edition will be held at the 2006 Fed Cup Finals in Belgium on September 15.

China has risen six places to Number 7 on the tally after their play-off victory over Germany allowed them to qualify for the World Group for the first time.

2007 World Group

Group Seeds: Belgium (No. 1), Italy (No. 2), Russia (No. 3), France (No. 4)

USA, Spain, China, Japan

2007 World Group II

Group Seeds: Slovak Republic (No. 1), Austria (No. 2), Canada (No. 3) Germany (No. 4)

Croatia, Czech Republic, Israel, Australia

(CRI July 26, 2006)