Team France win the 2019 Fed Cup Final between Australia and France in Perth, Australia, November 10, 2019. /VCG Photo
Holders France will face a strong Russia side and hosts Hungary in the group stage of the inaugural version of the $18 million Fed Cup Finals to be held in Budapest April 14-19.
American former World No. 1 Billie Jean King was present at Tuesday's draw ceremony and praised the International Tennis Federation's elevation of the women's team event which now shares equal prize money with the Davis Cup.
France, who beat Australia in the last final of the 57-year-old team event's previous format in November, are one of the four nations who qualified automatically for the 12-nation event to be staged on clay in Budapest.
Hungary, as host, Australia as runner-up and 11-time winner, and the Czech Republic, as a wild card, were the other three.
Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia plays a forehand during the match against Pauline Parmentier of France in the 2019 Fed Cup Final between Australia and France in Perth, Australia, November 10, 2019. /VCG Photo
The draw held in Budapest paired record 18-times Fed Cup champions United States with Slovakia and five-times winners Spain.
Australia will face Belgium and surprise finalists Belarus in Group B.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic will face Germany and Switzerland in Group D.
The four group winners will go to the semi-finals. Individual ties will consist of two singles matches followed by a doubles.
The competing players at the week-long event will split 12 million U.S. dollars with the other six million U.S. dollars going to federations.