**2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B**
**Definition:**
The 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B was one of two pools in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II segment of the 2016 Fed Cup, the premier international team competition in women’s tennis. Four national teams competed in a round-robin format, with the top team advancing to Group I and the bottom team facing potential relegation to Group III.
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## 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B
The 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B was a key component of the 2016 Fed Cup, the annual international women’s tennis competition organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). This pool was part of the Europe/Africa Zone Group II, which is the second tier of regional competition below Group I and above Group III. The competition took place in April 2016 and featured four national teams competing in a round-robin format. The results of Pool B determined promotion and relegation within the Europe/Africa Zone structure for the following year.
### Background
The Fed Cup, established in 1963, is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, analogous to the Davis Cup in men’s tennis. The competition is divided into several regional zones and groups based on the teams’ rankings and previous performances. The Europe/Africa Zone is one of the largest and most competitive zones, encompassing a wide range of countries with varying tennis traditions and strengths.
In 2016, the Europe/Africa Zone Group II was divided into two pools, Pool A and Pool B, each consisting of four teams. The teams in Pool B competed against each other in a round-robin format, with the objective of finishing at the top of the pool to earn promotion to Group I. Conversely, the team finishing last faced the risk of relegation to Group III.
### Participating Teams
The four national teams competing in Pool B of the 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II were:
– **Lithuania**
– **Egypt**
– **Ireland**
– **Norway**
These teams represented a diverse range of tennis backgrounds and experience levels. Lithuania and Ireland had shown steady progress in recent years, while Egypt and Norway were working to establish stronger presences in the Fed Cup competition.
### Format and Rules
The competition format for Pool B was a round-robin, where each team played against every other team once. Each tie between two nations consisted of two singles matches and one doubles match. The team that won at least two of these matches was declared the winner of the tie.
The standings in the pool were determined by the number of ties won. In the event of a tie in the number of ties won, the following criteria were used to break the tie:
1. Number of matches won
2. Percentage of sets won
3. Percentage of games won
4. Head-to-head results
The team finishing first in the pool advanced to the promotional play-offs, where they competed for a place in Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the 2017 Fed Cup. The team finishing last entered the relegation play-offs, facing the possibility of demotion to Group III.
### Venue and Dates
The Europe/Africa Zone Group II matches, including Pool B, were held at a single venue to facilitate the round-robin format and subsequent play-offs. The 2016 competition took place from April 11 to April 16, 2016. The venue was selected to provide suitable outdoor clay courts, which are common in European and African tennis facilities.
### Match Results
#### Lithuania vs. Egypt
The opening tie of Pool B featured Lithuania against Egypt. Lithuania, with a stronger ranking and more experience on the international stage, was favored to win. The singles matches saw Lithuania’s top players assert dominance, winning both singles rubbers. The doubles match was competitive but ultimately went to Lithuania, giving them a clean sweep in the tie.
#### Ireland vs. Norway
The second tie pitted Ireland against Norway. Both teams were closely matched, with players eager to secure vital wins. Ireland managed to win the first singles match, but Norway fought back in the second singles rubber. The doubles match became the decider, where Ireland’s pair demonstrated better teamwork and clinched the victory.
#### Lithuania vs. Norway
In this tie, Lithuania faced Norway. Lithuania continued their strong form, winning both singles matches convincingly. Norway was unable to recover in the doubles, resulting in a straight-sets victory for Lithuania.
#### Ireland vs. Egypt
Ireland and Egypt competed in a closely contested tie. Ireland’s players showed resilience, winning the first singles match. Egypt responded by taking the second singles rubber. The doubles match was tightly fought, but Ireland edged out Egypt to win the tie.
#### Lithuania vs. Ireland
This tie was crucial in determining the pool leader. Lithuania and Ireland both had strong performances in earlier ties, making this a highly anticipated match. Lithuania’s top singles player secured a win, but Ireland’s second singles player leveled the tie. The doubles match was the decider, with Lithuania prevailing to secure the top spot in the pool.
#### Norway vs. Egypt
The final tie of Pool B saw Norway face Egypt. Both teams were fighting to avoid finishing last and facing relegation. Norway managed to win the first singles match, but Egypt bounced back in the second singles rubber. The doubles match was decisive, with Norway winning to avoid relegation.
### Final Standings
At the conclusion of the round-robin matches, the standings in Pool B were as follows:
| Position | Team | Ties Won | Matches Won | Sets Won | Games Won |
|———-|———–|———-|————-|———-|———–|
| 1 | Lithuania | 3 | 9 | 18 | 108 |
| 2 | Ireland | 2 | 6 | 12 | 95 |
| 3 | Norway | 1 | 4 | 9 | 85 |
| 4 | Egypt | 0 | 1 | 4 | 70 |
Lithuania topped the pool undefeated, earning the right to compete in the promotional play-offs for advancement to Group I. Egypt, finishing last, entered the relegation play-offs to fight for their place in Group II.
### Promotion and Relegation Play-offs
Following the round-robin stage, the top team from Pool B, Lithuania, faced the top team from Pool A in a promotional play-off tie. The winner of this tie was promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the 2017 Fed Cup.
Conversely, Egypt, finishing last in Pool B, played against the last-placed team from Pool A in a relegation play-off. The loser of this tie was relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group III for the following year.
### Significance and Impact
The 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B competition was significant for the participating nations as it provided an opportunity to improve their international rankings and gain valuable experience in team competition. For Lithuania, topping the pool and advancing to the promotional play-offs marked a positive step in their Fed Cup development, reflecting the growth of tennis in the country.
For Ireland, Norway, and Egypt, the competition offered a platform to assess their players’ performances and identify areas for improvement. The relegation play-offs underscored the competitive nature of the Fed Cup structure, where national teams must consistently perform to maintain or improve their group status.
### Player Highlights
Several players stood out during the Pool B matches, contributing crucial wins for their teams. Lithuania’s top singles player demonstrated consistent form, winning all her singles rubbers and playing a pivotal role in the team’s success. Ireland’s doubles pair showed strong chemistry, securing important victories in tight matches. Norway and Egypt’s players gained valuable experience competing against higher-ranked opponents, which was expected to aid their development in future competitions.
### Conclusion
The 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B was a competitive and closely contested segment of the Fed Cup, showcasing emerging tennis nations striving for advancement. Lithuania’s dominance in the pool earned them a chance to compete for promotion, while the other teams gained important match experience. The structure of the Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone continues to provide a dynamic environment for national teams to develop and compete on the international stage.
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**Meta Description:**
The 2016 Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II – Pool B featured four national teams competing in a round-robin format, with Lithuania topping the group and advancing to the promotional play-offs. The competition determined promotion and relegation within the Europe/Africa Zone for the 2017 Fed Cup.