The last of four regional qualification events for the International Tennis Federation’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event, this week’s competition will see one men’s team and one women’s team qualify for the 2018 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Apeldoorn in The Netherlands from May 28 until June 3.

A total of 18 nations will be in action at the Vilamoura Tennis Academy, with Spain, winner of the European Qualification men’s event in 2014, drawn to play Hungary and Estonia in men’s Pool 1.

The women’s event is being played as one round-robin pool, with Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Russia and Sweden all playing each other over the course of the five days of competition.

Today’s first day of play saw Britain, led by world number eight and London 2012 bronze medallist  Lucy Shuker, earn a 3-0 clean sweep against Austria.

Louise Hunt got Britain off the mark with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Christine Pesendorfer.

Then Shuker put the tie beyond Austria with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Margrit Fink.

Shuker then partnered Lauren Jones to beat Fink and Pesendorfer 6-0 , 6-1 in the doubles rubber.

The trio’s win came on a day when new Tennis Foundation Disability Performance Director Matt Hammond joined the GB support team in Vilamoura.

Great Britain are due to play Sweden on Friday (April 13) in the second of their four round-robin ties.