Italy Defending Fed Cup

Written by: Staff on 1st February 2011

Italy Defending Fed Cup

Francesca Schiavone (ITA) |

The new Fed Cup by BNP Paribas season gets underway this week with eight World Group nations beginning their bid to lift the trophy. The action also starts in World Group II and four Zone Groups.

The pick of the World Group first round ties sees Italy travel to Hobart to meet newly promoted Australia, who are making a first appearance in the top tier since 2004. Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta are spearheading the challenge for the two-time defending champions, while the hosts are hoping that Samantha Stosur can inspire an upset.

USA, last year’s runner-up, also starts with a tricky opening away clash, against Belgium in Antwerp. The visitors are without the injured Williams sisters, so Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Melanie Oudin once again lead the charge. The Belgians have injury problems of their own, following last week’s news that a bad elbow forced Justine Henin to retire from professional tennis, but a strong line-up still includes Australian Open winner Kim Clijsters and Yanina Wickmayer.

Russia has named a star side to play France in Moscow, as former Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova team up to make the hosts favourites. The French face an already difficult trip without their top two players, Marion Bartoli and Aravane Rezai, leaving Alize Cornet and Virginie Razzano to fly the flag.

A delicately balanced local derby between Slovak Republic and Czech Republic in Bratislava completes the first round draw. The Slovaks have named experienced duo Daniela Hantuchova and Dominika Cibulkova, and the Czechs, hoping to improve on their semifinal appearances in the last two years, are at full strength.

Full coverage is available on the official Fed Cup by BNP Paribas website, including features, reports, photos, interviews, highlights, and live scores and streaming. For more information visit: http://www.fedcup.com and www.fedcup.com/es.

World Group first round, 5-6 February

Australia v Italy – Hobart, AUS

Russia v France – Moscow, RUS

Slovak Republic v Czech Republic – Bratislava, SVK

Belgium v USA – Antwerp, BEL

World Group II first round, 5-6 February

Estonia v Spain – Tallinn, EST

Slovenia v Germany – Maribor, SLO

Serbia v Canada – Novi Sad, SRB

Sweden v Ukraine – Helsingborg, SWE

Zonal events, 2-5 February

Europe/Africa Zone Group I – Eilat, ISR