Fed Cup Preview – 1st round Australia vs Italy

Written by: Staff on 28th January 2011

Fed Cup Preview - 1st round Australia vs Italy

Sam Stosur (AUS) |

Australia vs Italy

Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart, Australia

February 5-6, 2011

Playing for Australia: Sam Stosur, Jarmila Groth, Anastasia Rodionova and Rennae Stubbs
Playing for Italy: Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci

Australia has a 5-0 record over Italy in Fed Cup and has never even lost a rubber to the Italians. The two nations last met in the 1988 World Group second round when the competition was a week-long event. Australia went on to lose in the quarterfinals to Germany.

Australia is back in the World Group after a six-year absence, defeating Ukraine 5-0 in last April’s play-offs to secure its place in the elite eight. It is on an eight-tie winning streak in the competition.

Italy is the 2006, 2009 and 2010 Fed Cup champion, and has won seven of its last eight away ties.

Australia and Italy are two of just four nations to have competed in every Fed Cup.