The France Fed Cup team represents France in international women's tennis and is directed by the Fédération Française de Tennis. The team played in the first ever tournament in 1963, and is one of four teams that has taken part in every single edition since.While the French national team has not been one of the most successful in women's tennis, it has been very consistent over the years. Throughout the first ten years of competition, it never failed to reach the quarterfinals, and continued its good record through the early 1980s, accumulating a 63% win-loss percentage, reaching four semifinals, and winning the consolation rounds in 1982 despite being defeated in the first round of the main draw. The team experienced a slight downturn in the mid-to-late 1980s, winning only 40% of their ties from 1983 to 1989, but they returned to a successful form by reaching all but four semifinals from 1990 to 1999 and managing to win the 1997 edition, mainly thanks to their sizable contingent of top-twenty singles and doubles players the French had throughout that period in time. The triumphs continued through to the 2000s when, in addition to acquiring their first and so far only World No. 1 singles player, they claimed their second title in 2003 and reached two more finals in 2004 and 2005. These achievements were solidified when France became the second, and so far only one of five countries to reach the ITF No. 1 ranking in November 2003. However, the French team has experienced a relative decline in recent times, falling from the highest level of competition, the World Group, for the first time since initiation in 2011 and falling out of the ITF Top 15 the following year. However, France built their way back up to the World Group in the 2014 Fed Cup, and in 2016, the team reached their first final since 2005. Former World No. 3 and 1998 Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat holds the record for most Fed Cup doubles wins and total wins by a French player, whilst also participating in more ties and more years for the French team than any other person. Amélie Mauresmo, France's first and so far only World No. 1 singles player, on the other hand, holds the record for most singles wins in Fed Cup by a Frenchwoman. Mauresmo is also the current captain of the French Fed Cup team, having taken over the position from former ATP Top 20 player Nicolas Escudé in 2012.
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