Laura Robson And Heather Watson Arrive In Israel For Fed Cup (PICTURES)

Robson, Watson And The Girls Arrive In Israel For Fed Cup

British tennis' resurgence on the women's side thanks to Laura Robson and Heather Watson could inspire more females to pick up a racket.

Captain Judy Murray believes Robson and Watson, both ranked in the top 50 of the women's game, can spearhead a new enthusiasm for tennis with a strong Fed Cup campaign, which gets under way in Israel on Wednesday.

"The Fed Cup is the big sister of the Davis Cup," she said. "We have a very exciting group of players, it is the perfect platform to push on and get more girls playing tennis.

"The Fed Cup, in terms of growing the profile of women's tennis and growing the profile of the incredible group of players we have at the moment, is absolutely vital."

Britain should come through their Israel assignment - they must top Pool B and then come through a clash with the winner of Pool D - to advance to a World Group II play-off in April.

Victory there would then ensure a tournament calendar similar to that the majority of countries enjoy in the men's equivalent, the Davis Cup.

And that is of paramount importance to Murray.

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"I very much hope we can get into a situation where we can have home and away ties on a regular basis like the Davis Cup does," she said.

"Although the two events are both run by the International Tennis Federation they have a very different playing format.

"For most of the countries which compete in the Fed Cup, to play for your country as a team consists of three to four days a year in February.

"Using the Fed Cup as a platform to grow women's tennis we need to get in a situation where we have home and away ties."

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