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Page last updated at 12:50 GMT, Friday, 6 February 2009

Great Britain top Fed Cup group

Mel South
South cruised through her first singles match of the week

Great Britain's Fed Cup team are one step away from the World Group II play-offs after a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg in Tallin, Estonia.

Britain have won Group A of the Europe/Africa Zone and will play another group winner on Saturday for the right to take part in April's play-offs.

Mel South, playing her first singles of the week, beat Fabienne Thill 6-0 6-2.

British number one Anne Keothavong followed up with an emphatic 6-1 6-2 victory over Mandy Minella.

South, who recently broke into the world's top 100, was due back on court with Sarah Borwell for the doubles against Thill and Minella, but they were given a walkover.

Britain also whitewashed Hungary and Holland on their way to topping the group.

Captain Nigel Sears said: "We wanted to finish things up properly to win the group in style and the girls certainly did that.

"I'm very happy with their performances in every match and they really deserve this opportunity to play for a promotion spot."

606: DEBATE

Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand reached the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I final, with the winner moving up to the World Group II play-off.

Australia cruised through to Saturday's final with a 3-0 win over Taiwan in Group B as the Kiwis defeated Indonesia 2-1.

The Australians enjoyed the luxury of being able to rest Jelena Dokic, Casey Dellacqua coming in and dominating Hwang I-Hsuan 6-1 6-1.

World number 43 Samantha Stosur then demolished Chan Chin-Wei 6-3 6-0 to seal the tie, before the Australian pairing of Rennae Stubbs and Stosur won the dead doubles rubber 6-3 7-6 (7-2).

For Group A winners New Zealand, Marina Erakovic and Kairangi Vano beat Ayu Fani Damayanti and Sandy Gumulya 6-3 2-6 6-3 in the deciding doubles rubber after the singles were split.

The winner of Saturday's final will advance to the World Group II play-off in April.

Also on Saturday, the bottom nations from Groups A and B, India and Taiwan, will play to see who will be relegated to Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2010.

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