2019 FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND 9-10 February – TIE NOTES

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

Czech Republic (s) (c) v – Ostravar Arena, Ostrava, CZE – (hard, indoors)

Belgium (c) v (s) – Country Hall du Sart-Tilman, Liège, BEL – (hard, indoors)

Germany (c) v (s) – Volkswagen Halle, , GER – (hard, indoors)

USA (s) (c) v – US Cellular Arena, Asheville, NC, USA – (hard, indoors)

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

Switzerland (s) (c)* v – Swiss Arena, Biel, SUI – (hard, indoors)

Latvia (c)* v (s) – Arena , Riga, LAT – (hard, indoors)

Japan (s) (c) v Spain – Sogo Gymnastic Hall, Kita-kyushu, JPN – (hard, indoors)

Netherlands (s) (c)* v – Maaspoort Sports & Events, ’s-Hertogenbosch, NED – (clay, indoors)

(s) = seed (c) = choice of ground * = choice of ground was decided by lot

CHOICE OF GROUND – WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS The winners of this weekend’s World Group first round ties advance to the semifinals on 20-21 April. Below is the choice of ground for all potential semifinal match-ups. The venue details are due to be submitted to the ITF by 25 February.

BELGIUM FRANCE CZE CZE ROMANIA BEL FRA*

USA AUSTRALIA GER AUS BELARUS USA AUS* * choice of ground decided by lot

WORLD GROUP & WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS The World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs will also take place on 20-21 April. The draw for the World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs will be held at the ITF offices in on Tuesday 12 February. The seeds will be based on the new Fed Cup Nations ranking of 11 February. Venue details for play-off ties are due to be submitted to the ITF by 5 March.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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PAST CHAMPIONS In total, 11 nations have won the Fed Cup.

• USA 18 • Czech Republic (5 as Czechoslovakia) 11 • Australia 7 • Spain 5 • Italy, 4 • France, Germany 2 • Belgium, Slovakia, South Africa 1

COMEBACKS FROM 0-2 DOWN There have been just 7 comebacks from 0-2 down since the best of five format was adopted in Fed Cup in 1995. France recorded the most recent 0-2 comeback by defeating Italy 3-2 in the 2015 World Group first round.

TOP TIEBREAKS Since the introduction of the tiebreak in Fed Cup, there have never been more than 5 tiebreaks in a ‘best of five rubber’ tie. This has happened twice before: Italy d. Australia 4-1, 2011 World Group first round/Czech Republic d. Australia 4-0, 2013 World Group first round.

PARTICIPATING NATIONS 101 nations have entered the 2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.

FED CUP NATIONS RANKING The ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking was launched at the end of 2002. It is published following every tie weekend and measures success over the preceding 4-year period, with recent performances weighted more heavily. It is the sole criteria for seeding at all levels of Fed Cup competition.

Latest Fed Cup Nations Ranking (12 November 2018)

1 Czech Republic 11 Russia 2 USA 12 Slovakia 3 Belarus 13 4 France 14 Spain 5 Germany 15 6 Belgium 16 Italy 7 17 Canada 8 Romania 18 Great Britain 9 Australia 19 Paraguay 10 20

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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FED CUP RECORDS* World Group (Since 1995) Fed Cup

Most Games in a Tie 162: See World Group (Best of Five format) France d. Japan 4-1, 1997 World Group I first round

Longest recorded 10 hours, 26 minutes: 12 hours, 27 minutes: Spain d. Belgium 3-2, 2004 WG quarterfinal playing-time (tie) France d. Slovakia 3-2, 2009 WG play-off Italy d. Australia 4-1, 2011 WG first round

4 hours, 0 minutes: Longest singles rubber Richel Hogenkamp (NED) d. Svetlana See World Group Kuznetsova (RUS) 76(4) 57 10-8, 2016 World Group first round 2 hours, 28 minutes: / (RUS) d. Dominika Cibulkova/Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 3 hours, 35 minutes: Longest doubles rubber 46 63 61, 2013 World Group semifinal Tzipi Obziler/ (ISR) d. /Cludine Schaul (LUX) 36 76 108, Bojana Jovanovski/Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) d. 2001 Europe/Africa Group I / (BEL) 76(2) 46 61, 2012 World Group first round

12-10: 21-19: Longest tiebreak Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. / (IND) d. (BEL), 67(10) 62 61, 2011 World Group first Vlada Ekshibarova/Ivanna Israilova (UZB), round 76(19) 61, 2004 Asia/Oceania Group I *for further details see the Statistics page on the official Fed Cup website: http://www.fedcup.com/en/statistics/general-records.aspx

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Czech Republic v Romania – Ostravar Arena, Ostrava, CZE – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-: Czech Republic leads 2-0 A 3rd meeting for the 2 teams and their first in Czech Republic. The Czechs won on the nations first meeting in 1980 – played in Berlin – as well as at this stage of the competition in 2016, when they recorded a 3-2 victory in Cluj-Napoca with Karolina Pliskova/Barbora Strycova defeating /Raluca Olaru in the decisive doubles rubber.

CZECH REPUBLIC v ROMANIA

1 Current FC Nations Ranking 8 Champion 11 times* 5 quarterfinals, Best Result (most recent 2018) WG first round 2016, 19 1963 First year played 1973 49 Years played (inc 2019) 39 143 Ties played 133 106-37 Ties Win-Loss 78-55 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0 (*5 times as Czechoslovakia)

• 2018 champion CZECH REPUBLIC is bidding to reach the semifinals for the 11th consecutive year.

• Last year, Czech Republic won its 11th Fed Cup title after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in Prague and Germany 4-1 in Stuttgart in the opening 2 rounds and USA 3-0 in the Fed Cup Final in Prague, with Katerina Siniakova defeating to win the decisive 3rd point.

• Czech Republic is in 2nd place on the list for most Fed Cup titles won, behind USA. As Czechoslovakia, the team won the title in 1975, 1983-85 and 1988. As Czech Republic, the team has won the title in 6 of the last 8 years – in 2011-12, 2014-16 and last year.

• Czech Republic has won 13 of its last 14 ties. Its only defeat in that time came against USA in the 2017 World Group semifinals in Florida.

• Czech Republic is bidding to extend its 18-tie winning streak on hard courts. It has not lost a hard court tie since falling to USA 3-2 in the 2009 World Group semifinals in Brno.

• Czech Republic is bidding to extend its 11-tie winning streak at home. It has not lost a home tie since falling to USA 3-2 in the 2009 World Group semifinals in Brno.

• Helena Sukova is Czech Republic’s most successful Fed Cup player with the most total wins (57), most singles wins (45), most ties played (54) and joint-most years played, alongside Lucie Safarova (13).

• Czech Republic is ranked at No. 1 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. It has held the No. 1 ranking since April 2014, having first attained the top position in April 2012.

• If Czech Republic wins this weekend, it will host either Belgium or France in the semifinals.

• Karolina Pliskova is contesting her 8th Fed Cup tie this weekend. She has a 10-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 14-4 win-loss record in the competition overall. She has won a decisive doubles rubber on 4 occasions – most recently defeating / alongside Barbora Strycova in the Czech Republic’s 2016 Final victory against France.

• Katerina Siniakova won both rubbers she contested in the 2018 Final, including winning the decisive 3rd point by defeating USA’s Sofia Kenin in the 3rd rubber. She has a 3-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 4-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Marketa Vondrousova is making her 2nd Fed Cup appearance this weekend. Her only previous appearance in the competition came in Czech Republic’s defeat to USA in the 2017 World Group semifinals, where she won one of the 2 singles rubbers she contested.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Barbora Krejcikova could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend. She was nominated for the first time for the 2018 Final but did not play.

• Captain Petr Pala is the most successful Fed Cup captain of all-time in terms of titles won – Pala has captained 6 winning teams.

• ROMANIA is bidding to reach the semifinals for the first time and record its best Fed Cup result.

• Last year, Romania defeated Canada 3-1 in the World Group II first round in Cluj-Napoca and Switzerland 3-1 in the World Group play-offs, also in Cluj-Napoca, to return to the World Group for the first time since 2016.

• Romania is bidding to win 4 consecutive best-of-5-rubber ties for the first time. By winning its 3 most- recent ties, it has equalled its longest winning streak in best-of-5-rubber ties, having also achieved the feat in 2014-15, when it defeated Serbia in the 2014 World Group II play-offs, Spain in the 2015 World Group II first round and Canada in the 2015 World Group play-offs.

• Romania is contesting its first away tie since 2015 this weekend. Since winning promotion from Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2014, it has contested just one tie away from home – defeating Canada 3-2 in the 2015 World Group play-offs in .

• By contesting the World Group this year, Romania has equalled its best Fed Cup performance. It also contested the World Group in 2016 and reached the last 8 on 5 previous occasions, finishing as quarterfinalists in 1973-74, 1978 and 1980-81.

• Romania broke the Top 10 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking for the first time at No. 7 in April 2015. It is currently ranked one place lower at No. 8.

• If Romania wins this weekend, it will travel to either Belgium or France in the semifinals.

• will claim sole ownership of the record for most Fed Cup match-wins by a Romanian player if she wins a rubber this weekend. She has a 30-20 win-loss record – tied with -Ilie (30-17). Dragomir-Ilie holds the Romanian record for most singles wins (21), while Niculescu holds the Romanian record for most doubles wins (15), and also holds the record for most ties (36) and years played (12).

• is bidding to climb the list for most Fed Cup match-wins by a Romanian player. She will equal Catalina Cristea in 4th place on the list if she wins 2 rubbers this weekend and claim sole ownership of 4th place if she wins 3 rubbers. She has a 16-5 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 2-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles.

Most Fed Cup match-wins by a Romanian player 1= Ruxandra Dragomir-Ilie 30-17 Monica Niculescu 30-20 3. Virginia Ruzici 25-13 4. Catalina Cristea 20-13 5. Simon Halep 18-9

• Mihaela Buzarnescu could contest her first Fed Cup singles match since 2012 this weekend. She returned to the team for the first time in 6 years in Romania’s World Group play-off victory against Switzerland last year. She has won both singles rubbers she has contested and has a 3-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Irina-Camelia Begu is bidding to extend a 4-match Fed Cup winning streak, having not lost in the competition since falling to in the 3rd rubber of Romania’s 2017 World Group II first round defeat to Belgium. She has an 8-6 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 14-9 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Ana Bogdan could contest her first live rubber this weekend. She is making her 2nd Fed Cup appearance, having made her debut in Romania’s World Group II first round victory against Canada last year, losing a dead doubles rubber alongside Raluca Olaru to /.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Belgium v France – Country Hall du Sart-Tilman, Liège, BEL – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-head: France leads 4-1 A 6th meeting for the 2 nations – and their 2nd consecutive encounter at this stage of the competition, having also contested a first round tie in 2018. France recorded a 3-2 victory in Mouilleron le Captif last year, with Amandine Hesse/Kristina Mladenovic defeating /Elise Mertens in the decisive doubles rubber. Belgium’s only victory against France came during the round-robin stage of the 2000 World Group on neutral ground in .

Both captains, Johan Van Herck and Julien Benneteau, are taking charge of their teams for the first time this weekend.

FRANCE v BELGIUM

4 Current FC Nations Ranking 6 Champion 2 times Best Result Champion 2001 (1997, 2003) 1963 First Year Played 1963 57 Years Played (inc 2019) 55 150 Ties Played 151 91-59 Ties Win-Loss 80-71 1 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

• BELGIUM is bidding to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2011 – and just the 2nd time since it finished runner-up in 2006.

• Last year, Belgium fell to this weekend’s opponents 3-2 in the World Group first round in Mouilleron le Captif before maintaining its World Group status by defeating Italy 4-0 in the World Group play-offs in Genoa.

• Belgium has won 8 of its last 9 Fed Cup ties, with its defeat to this weekend’s in the first round last year ending a 7-tie winning streak.

• Belgium is contesting its first home tie since 2013, when it fell to in the World Group II play-offs in Koksijde. It has been drawn at home this weekend for the first time since winning promotion from Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2016.

• Belgium was crowned Fed Cup champion in 2001, defeating Russia 2-1 in the final after comprehensive singles wins for and Kim Clijsters. They finished runner-up in their only other appearance in the final in 2006, falling to Italy 3-2 in the deciding doubles rubber.

• Belgium is ranked No. 6 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. It reached its highest ranking of No. 2 in July 2003.

• If Belgium wins this weekend, it will either host Romania or travel to Czech Republic in the semifinals.

• Elise Mertens has won 6 of the 7 Fed Cup singles rubbers she has contested, going unbeaten until falling to Kristina Mladenovic in the 3rd rubber of Belgium’s World Group first round defeat to this weekend’s opponents last year. She has an 8-2 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Alison Van Uytvanck has won 11 of her last 12 Fed Cup singles rubbers. Her defeat to Elena Vesnina in the Belgium’s 2017 World Group play-off victory against Russia ended a 9-match winning streak in Fed Cup singles. She has a 12-5 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 15-10 win-loss record in the competition overall. [NB She gave a walkover to ’s Anna Bondar in the 2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 5th-8th play-off]

• Kirsten Flipkens has played in more Fed Cup campaigns than any other Belgian player. She made her Fed Cup debut in 2003 and is competing in Fed Cup for the 16th season. She has a 12-20 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 14-30 win-loss record in the competition overall.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Ysaline Bonaventure could make her first appearance in the competition since 2016 this weekend. She has a 4-0 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 7-4 win-loss record in the competition overall. She was nominated for both of Belgium’s ties in 2018 but did not play in either.

• Captain Johan Van Herck is taking charge of the Belgium team for the first time this weekend. He has captained the Belgian Davis Cup tie since 2011, leading the team to 2 Davis Cup Finals. He has a 13-7 win-loss record as Davis Cup captain.

• FRANCE is bidding to reach the semifinals for the 4th time in the last 5 years. It has failed to reach the last 4 on just one occasion since 2015 – when it fell to Switzerland in the 2017 World Group first round.

• Last year, France defeated this weekend’s opponents 3-2 in the World Group first round in Mouilleron le Captif but fell to USA 3-2 in the semifinals in Aix-En-Provence.

• France is contesting just its 2nd away tie since 2015. It has played 6 of its last 7 ties on home soil, with its only away tie in that time coming against Switzerland in the 2017 World Group first round in Geneva.

• France recorded the most recent comeback from 0-2 down in Fed Cup, defeating Italy 3-2 in the 2015 World Group first round. There have been 7 comebacks from 0-2 down – by 6 different nations – in Fed Cup history.

• France is a 2-time Fed Cup champion, having won the title in 1997 and 2003. It is one of only 4 nations to compete in every year of Fed Cup since its inception in 1963.

• France features prominently in the Fed Cup records. In 1997, France’s World Group first round tie against Japan entered the record books on three counts – most games in a tie (162) and the joint-most games in a rubber (54) and set (32) when defeated Naoko Sawamatsu 75 46 17-15.

• Amelie Mauresmo is France’s most successful Fed Cup player in terms of singles wins with a 30-9 win-loss record. She has a 32-11 overall win-loss record for her country, putting her just behind Nathalie Tauziat (33-21) for most total wins.

• France is ranked No. 4 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. It held the No. 1 ranking between November 2003 and July 2005.

• If France wins this weekend, it will either host Romania or travel to Czech Republic in the semifinals.

• Caroline Garcia is making her first Fed Cup appearances since the 2016 Final this weekend. She has won 5 of her last 6 singles rubbers in the competition, with her only defeat in that time coming against in France’s 2016 World Group semifinal victory against Netherlands. She has an 8-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 13-5 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Kristina Mladenovic is bidding to climb the list for most Fed Cup match-wins by a French player this weekend. She will equal Julie Halard-Decugis in 5th place if she wins 2 rubbers this weekend and claim sole ownership of 5th place if she wins 3 rubbers. She has a 9-7 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and an 11-2 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles.

Most Fed Cup match-wins by a French player 1. Nathalie Tauziat 33-21 2. Amelie Mauresmo 32-11 3. Francoise Durr 31-17 4. Gail Benedetti 26-25 5. Julie Halard-Decugis 22-13 6. Kristina Mladenovic 20-9

• Alize Cornet is bidding to end a 4-match losing streak in Fed Cup singles rubbers. She has not won a singles rubber in the competition since defeating in France’s 2014 World Group II first round victory against Switzerland. She has a 3-14 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 7-18 win-loss record in the competition overall. She is making her first Fed Cup appearance since the 2017 World Group play-offs.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• has won just one of her last 8 Fed Cup singles rubbers. Her only victory in that time came against in France’s 2017 World Group play-off victory against Spain. She has a 5-12 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and won the only doubles rubber she has contested in the competition.

• Fiona Ferro could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend, having been nominated for the first time.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Germany v Belarus – Volkswagen Halle, Braunschweig, GER – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-head: Germany leads 1-0 A 2nd meeting for the 2 nations, having met for the first time at this stage of the competition in Minsk last year. The Germans won on that occasion, with Anna-Lena Groenefeld/ defeating / in the decisive doubles rubber.

GERMANY v BELARUS

5 Current FC Nations Ranking 3 Champion Best Result Final 2017 1987, 1992 1963 First Year Played 1994 55 Years Played (inc 2019) 26 148 Ties Played 100 94-54 Ties Win-Loss 70-30 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

• GERMANY is bidding to reach back-to-back semifinals for the first time since 2014-15.

• Last year, Germany reached the semifinals after defeating this weekend’s opponents 3-2 in Minsk in the World Group first round, but fell to Czech Republic 4-1 in the last 4 in Stuttgart.

• Germany has won just one of its last 3 ties on a hard court. Its only victory on a hard court in that time came against Belarus in the first round last year.

• Germany is a 2-time Fed Cup champion, having won the title in 1987 and 1992. The nation is in joint-7th place with France on the all-time list of champions.

• Helga Masthoff is Germany’s most successful Fed Cup player in terms of total wins (38), ties played (33) and doubles wins (15).

• Germany is ranked No. 5 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – 2 places below its highest ranking of No. 3, which it first achieved in February 2015.

• If Germany wins this weekend, it will either host USA or travel to Australia in the semifinals.

• has won just one of her last 7 Fed Cup rubbers. Her only victory in that time came against Monica Niculescu in Germany’s 2016 World Group play-off victory against Romania. She has a 12-8 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 14-11 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Tatjana Maria returned to the competition for the first time since 2011 in Germany’s first round victory against this weekend’s opponents last year. She won 2 of the 3 rubbers she contested in that tie, including the decisive doubles rubber alongside Anna-Lena Groenefeld (d. Lidziya Marozava/Aryna Sabalenka). She has a 5-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 10-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• is making her 2nd Fed Cup appearance this weekend. Her only previous appearance in the competition came in Germany’s 2013 World Group play-off victory against Serbia, in which she won one of the 2 singles rubbers she contested.

• could make her Fed Cup singles debut this weekend. She has been nominated for the 3rd time and contested dead doubles rubbers in both of her previous appearances – in Germany’s defeat to USA in the 2017 World Group first round and in its victory against Ukraine in the 2017 World Group play-offs.

• Anna-Lena Groenefeld became just the 6th German woman to record 20 Fed Cup match-wins by winning the decisive doubles rubber in the World Group first round. She has a 20-16 win-loss record in the competition. Masthoff (38 wins), Huber (29), (28), Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (28) and Bettina Bunge (27) are the only other German women to have recorded 20 or more match-wins in the competition.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• BELARUS is bidding to reach the semifinals for the 2nd time in its history.

• Last year, Belarus fell to this weekend’s opponents 3-2 in the World Group first round in Minsk, before maintaining its World Group status by defeating Slovakia 3-2 in the World Group play-offs, also in Minsk. Its victory against Slovakia was the 100th Fed Cup tie it had contested.

• Belarus’ best Fed Cup performance is reaching the 2017 Final. It defeated Netherlands 4-1 in the first round and Switzerland 3-2 in the semifinals, before falling to USA 3-2 in the Final in Minsk with Aryna Sabalenka/ losing to /CoCo Vandeweghe in the decisive 5th rubber.

• Belarus has won 10 of its last 12 ties. Its only defeats in that time came against USA in the 2017 Final and against this weekend’s opponents in the first round last year. Prior to its defeat in the 2017 Final, it had won 9 straight ties and won back-to-back promotions from Europe/Africa Zone Group I through to the World Group.

• Belarus is contesting its first away tie since 2016. It contested 5 straight home ties – all at the Chizhovka Arena in Minsk – in 2017-18. Its last away tie came in the 2016 World Group play-offs, when it defeated Russia in Moscow.

• Current captain holds the Fed Cup record for most total wins (37), most ties played (45) and most years played (15) while representing Belarus.

• Natalia Zvereva is the most successful Belarusian player in Fed Cup history. Zvereva represented USSR from 1986-91 and Belarus from 1994-2002. She has a 59-21 win-loss record in the competition and a 35-11 win-loss record while representing Belarus.

• Belarus is ranked No. 3 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – one place below its highest-ever ranking of No. 2, which it achieved after defeating Switzerland in the 2017 semifinals.

• If Belarus wins this weekend, it will travel to either USA or Australia in the semifinals.

• Aryna Sabalenka has won 5 of her last 7 Fed Cup singles rubbers. Her only defeats in that time came against CoCo Vandeweghe in Belarus’ 2017 Final defeat to USA and against Viktoria Kuzmova in the World Group play-off victory against Slovakia last year. She has a 6-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 6-7 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Aliaksandra Sasnovich became the 6th Belarusian player to record 20 Fed Cup match-wins by defeating Jana Cepelova in the first rubber of Belarus’ victory against Slovakia in the World Group play-offs last year. She has a 15-10 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 20-13 win-loss record in the competition overall.

Most Fed Cup match-wins by a Belarusian player 1. Tatiana Poutchek 37-15 2. Natalia Zvereva* 35-11 3. Olga Barabanschikova 33-17 4. 26-13 5. 21-5 6. Aliaksandra Sasnovich 20-13 *Prior to 1994 Natalia Zvereva represented USSR. She has a 35-11 Fed Cup win-loss record for Belarus and a 59-21 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Victoria Azarenka could make her first Fed Cup appearance since 2016, when she won 2 rubbers in Belarus’ World Group play-off victory against Russia. She is bidding to extend a 12-match winning streak in Fed Cup rubbers, having not lost in the competition since falling to Sybille Bammer in Belarus’ 2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group I defeat to . She has a 16-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 21-5 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• could play her 2nd Fed Cup singles rubber this weekend, having made her singles debut in the Belarus’ defeat to this weekend’s opponents in the World Group first round last year, where she fell to Tatjana

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Maria in 3 sets. She has also played 6 doubles rubbers in the competition and has a 5-2 overall win-loss record.

• Lidziya Marozava has been nominated for the 4th consecutive tie. Prior to the 2017 Final, where she was nominated but did not play, her only previous appearances in the competition came at the 2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Eilat, Israel. She has a 2-2 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles and lost the only singles rubber she has contested.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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USA v Australia – US Cellular Arena, Asheville, NC, USA – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-head: USA leads 9-5 A 15th meeting for the 2 nations – but only their 2nd since 1985. USA won on their most-recent encounter, a World Group play-off in Brisbane in 2016. Australia has won just one of the nations’ last 8 meetings – a 2-1 victory in the 1984 semifinals on neutral ground in Brazil.

USA v AUSTRALIA

2 Current FC Nations Ranking 9 Champion 18 times Champion 7 times Best Result (most recent 2017) (most recent 1974) 1963 First year played 1963 56 Years played (inc 2019) 57 188 Ties played 180 151-37 Ties Win-Loss 128-52 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 1

• 2018 runner-up USA is bidding to reach the semifinals for the 3rd straight year. It has not reached 3 consecutive semifinals since 2005-10, when it reached the last 4 on 6 consecutive occasions.

• Last year, USA reached its 30th Fed Cup Final, after defeating Netherlands 3-1 in Asheville and France 3-2 in Aix-en-Provence in the semifinals. It fell to Czech Republic 3-0 in the title match in Prague.

• USA has been crowned Fed Cup champion 18 times – more than any other nation. It won its 18th Fed Cup title – and first since 2000 – in 2017, defeating Belarus 3-2 in the Final in Minsk, with Shelby Rogers/CoCo Vandeweghe defeating Aryna Sabalenka/Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the decisive 5th rubber.

• USA has won 7 of its last 8 Fed Cup ties. Its defeat to Czech Republic in the Final last year ended a 7-tie winning streak – it had previously not lost since falling to Italy in the 2015 World Group play-offs.

• USA is bidding to win its 152nd Fed Cup tie this weekend. It has won more Fed Cup ties than any other nation.

• is the most successful American player in Fed Cup history in terms of most total wins (57), most singles wins (40) and most ties played (42).

• USA is currently ranked No. 2 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its joint-highest ranking since the rankings were introduced in 2002.

• If USA wins this weekend, it will either host Belarus or travel to Germany in the semifinals.

• is competing in just her 5th Fed Cup tie this weekend. Her most recent appearance came in USA’s victory against France in the semifinals last year, when she defeated Pauline Parmentier in the only rubber she contested. She has a 3-2 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 4-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Sofia Kenin could make her 2nd Fed Cup appearance this weekend, having made her debut in the Fed Cup Final last year. She lost both of the rubbers she contested in 3 sets – to Barbora Strycova in the first rubber and Katerina Siniakova in the 3rd rubber.

• and could make their Fed Cup debuts this weekend. Both were nominated for the first time in the 2018 Final but neither contested a rubber.

• Captain Kathy Rinaldi has won 5 of the 6 ties she has contested as captain, with her unbeaten run coming to an end after when USA fell to Czech Republic in the 2018 Final. She never competed in Fed Cup for USA as a player.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• AUSTRALIA is bidding to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2014 – and just the 2nd time since the current format was adopted in 1995.

• Last year, Australia defeated Ukraine 3-2 in the World Group II first round in Canberra, before defeating Netherlands 4-1 in the World Group play-offs in Wollongong to win promotion to the World Group for the first time since it was relegated in 2015.

• Australia is bidding to win 4 consecutive ties for the first time since 2009-10, when it won 7 straight ties and back-to-back promotions from Asia/Oceania Zone Group I through to the World Group.

• Australia has won 3 of its last 4 ties on a hard court. Its only defeat on hard courts in that time came against Ukraine in the 2017 World Group II first round in Kharkiv.

• Australia is a 7-time Fed Cup champion having won the title in 1964-65, 1968, 1970-71 and 1973-74. Australia is 3rd on the all-time list of Fed Cup champions behind USA (18) and Czech Republic (11). It is one of only 4 nations to have competed in every Fed Cup.

• Australia is ranked No. 9 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 4, which it reached in February 2014.

• If Australia wins this weekend, it will host either Germany or Belarus in the semifinals.

• is bidding to extend her 8-match winning streak in Fed Cup rubbers. She won all 5 rubbers she contested in Australia’s victories against Ukraine and Netherlands last year. She has a 6-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and an 11-2 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• is contesting her 6th Fed Cup tie this weekend. She recorded just her 2nd victory in a live rubber by defeating Quirine Lemoine in the 4th rubber of Australia’s victory against Netherlands in the World Group play-offs last year. She has a 3-5 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles rubbers and a 4-6 win-loss record the competition overall.

• could make her 2nd Fed Cup appearance this weekend. Her only previous appearance in the competition came in Australia’s 2016 World Group II first round victory against Slovakia. She fell to Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets in the only rubber she contested.

• and Astra Sharma could make their Fed Cup debuts this weekend, with both having been nominated for the first time.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Switzerland v Italy – Swiss Tennis Arena, Biel, SUI – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-head: Switzerland leads 1-0 A 2nd meeting for the 2 nations. Their only previous meeting came in 1977, when Switzerland recorded a 2-1 victory on neutral ground in Eastbourne.

SWITZERLAND v ITALY

7 Current FC Nations Ranking 16 Champion 4 times Final 1998 Best Result (most recent 2013) 1963 First Year Played 1963 55 Years Played (inc 2019) 57 140 Ties Played 135 77-63 Ties Win-Loss 75-60 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

• SWITZERLAND is bidding to win immediate promotion to the World Group, having been relegated last year.

• Last year, Switzerland fell to Czech Republic 3-1 in the World Group first round in Prague and to Romania 3-1 in the World Group play-offs in Cluj-Napoca. It did not win a rubber in live play in either tie – its defeat to Czech Republic was its first without winning a rubber in live play since it fell 3-0 to Slovenia in the 2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group I promotional play-off.

• Switzerland is contesting World Group II for the first time since 2015. Since winning promotion in 2015, it competed in the World Group for 3 years, and reached the semifinals in both 2016 (l. Czech Republic) and 2017 (l. Belarus).

• Switzerland is bidding to avoid losing 4 straight Fed Cup ties for the first time since 1987-89, when it lost 4 consecutive ties to Netherlands (1987), USA and Great Britain (1988), and USSR (1989). By losing its 3 most- recent ties, it has recorded its longest losing streak since 2005-06, when it fell to Austria in the 2005 World Group play-offs, Japan in the 2006 World Group II first round and Australia in the 2006 World Group II play- offs.

• Switzerland’s best Fed Cup result is finishing runner-up in 1998. The team of and led Spain 2-1 after two singles wins for Hingis, but slipped to defeat in the deciding doubles rubber.

• Schnyder is Switzerland’s most successful Fed Cup player in terms of most total wins (50), most singles wins (33), most doubles wins (17) and most ties (38) played.

• Switzerland is ranked No. 7 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – 3 places lower than its best ranking of No. 4, which it reached in February 2017.

• If Switzerland wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• has won just one of her last 4 Fed Cup singles rubbers. Her only victory in that time came against Pauline Parmentier in Switzerland’s World Group first round victory against France in 2017. She has a 7-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and an 11-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Stefanie Voegele could make her first Fed Cup appearance since 2014 this weekend. She has not appeared in the competition since falling to in Switzerland’s 2014 World Group II first round defeat to France. She has 5-11 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 6-14 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Viktorija Golubic is bidding to end a 4-match losing streak in Fed Cup singles rubbers, having not won a singles rubber since she defeated Barbora Strycova in Switzerland’s defeat against Czech Republic in the 2016 World Group semifinals. She has a 2-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 5-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Timea Bacsinszky is bidding to climb the list of Fed Cup match-wins by a Swiss player. Bacsinszky will join Hingis in 3rd place on the list if she wins one rubber this weekend and claim sole ownership of 3rd place if she wins 2 rubbers.

Most Fed Cup match-wins by a Swiss player 1. Patty Schnyder 50-22 2. Petra Delhees-Jauch 33-15 3. Martina Hingis 29-7 4. Timea Bacsinszky 28-22 5. 23-9

• could make her Fed Cup singles debut this weekend. She made her debut in the competition in the 2018 World Group first round and also played in the World Group play-offs last year, winning dead doubles rubbers on both occasions.

• ITALY is bidding to reach the World Group play-offs for the 2nd straight year.

• Last year, Italy advanced to the World Group play-offs after defeating Spain 3-2 in the World Group II first round in Chieti, but fell to Belgium 4-0 in the play-offs in Genoa.

• Italy is contesting World Group II for just the 3rd time since 1998 this year after 18 straight years the World Group from 1999-2016. It was relegated to World Group II in 2016 following defeats to France and Spain and failed to win promotion in 2017-18.

• Italy is bidding to end a 3-tie losing streak in away ties. It has not won an away tie since defeating USA in the 2014 World Group first round in Cleveland. It is contesting its first away tie since falling to Spain in the 2016 World Group play-offs in Lleida, having contested 4 straight home ties in 2017-18.

• Italy is a 4-time Fed Cup champion, having won the title in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013. In 2006, Italy became the first nation to win the title without playing a home tie (since the home-and-away format was adopted in 1995). It is one of only 4 nations to compete in every year of Fed Cup since its inception in 1963.

• is Italy’s most successful Fed Cup player in terms of most total wins (27) and most singles wins (23).

• Italy is ranked No. 16 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its lowest position since the rankings were introduced in 2002. It held the No. 1 ranking from November 2009 through to February 2012 and again from November 2013 through to February 2014.

• If Italy wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• Camilla Giorgi is making her first Fed Cup appearance since the 2016 World Group first round this weekend. She has a 3-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and lost the only doubles rubber she has contested in the competition.

• Sara Errani is bidding to climb the list for most Fed Cup match-wins by an Italian player this weekend. She will claim sole ownership of 2nd place on the list if she wins one rubber, join Francesca Schiavone at the top of the list if she wins 2 rubbers, and claim sole ownership of first place if she wins 3 rubbers. She has a 16-15 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 9-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles.

Most Fed Cup match-wins by an Italian player 1. Francesca Schiavone 27-22 2= Sara Errani 25-19 25-5 4= 23-11 23-8

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Martina Trevisan could make her first Fed Cup appearance since 2017 this weekend. She defeated Lee Ya-Hsuan in a 22-game deciding set on her only singles appearance in the competition to date, in Italy’s 2017 World Group II play-off victory against Chinese Taipei.

• is bidding to record her first Fed Cup singles victory this weekend. She has lost both of the singles rubbers she has contested – to Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro and to Belgium’s Elise Mertens last year. She has a 1-5 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Deborah Chiesa could contest her 2nd live rubber this weekend. She won the only live rubber she has previously contested – on her Fed Cup debut, when she defeated in a final set tiebreak in the 4th rubber of Italy’s World Group II first round victory against Spain last year.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Latvia v Slovakia – Arena Riga, Riga, LAT – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-head: first meeting

LATVIA v SLOVAKIA

15 Current FC Nations Ranking 12 World Group Best Result Champion 2002 second round 1993 1992 First Year Played 1994 28 Years Played (inc 2019) 26 99 Ties Played 60 50-49 Ties Win-Loss 35-25 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

• LATVIA is bidding to reach World Group play-offs for the first time in its history.

• Last year, Latvia advanced to the World Group II play-offs after winning promotion at the Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Tallinn. The team defeated Turkey, Poland and Austria in the group stages before defeating Serbia in the promotion play-off. It then defeated Russia 3-2 in the World Group II play-offs in Khanty-Mansiysk.

• Latvia is contesting its 100th Fed Cup tie this weekend.

• Latvia is also contesting its first tie on home soil this weekend. It contested its first best-of-5-rubber tie and its first tie in the home and away format in its World Group II play-off victory against Russia last year.

• Latvia is contesting World Group II for the first time. It previously contested the World Group in 1993-94, when the World Group was contested by 32 teams, and reached the last 16 in 1993.

• Latvia is bidding to win 6 consecutive Fed Cup ties for the first time since 2007-09, when it won 8 straight ties to win consecutive promotions from Europe/Africa Zone Group III to Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

• Prior to 1992, Latvian players represented USSR.

• Larisa Savchenko is the most successful Latvian Fed Cup player, with a 27-11 overall win-loss record while representing Latvia in the competition. Prior to 1992, Savchenko represented USSR compiling a 40-11 win- loss record in Fed Cup.

• Latvia is ranked No. 15 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking, having broken the Top 20 for the first time since the rankings were introduced after defeating Russia in the World Group II play-offs last year.

• If Latvia wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• Jelena Ostapenko is bidding to claim sole ownership of the record for most Fed Cup match-wins while representing Latvia this weekend. By winning 2 rubbers in Latvia’s World Group II play-off victory against Russia last year, she equalled Savchenko’s record of 27 Fed Cup match-wins while representing Latvia – Savchenko also recorded 40 Fed Cup match-wins while representing USSR. Diana Marcinkevica and could also climb the list this weekend.

Most Fed Cup match-wins by a Latvian player 1= Jelena Ostapenko 27-13 Larisa Savchenko 27-11* 3. Diana Marcinkevica 22-24 4. Anastasija Sevastova 21-10 5. Irina Kuzmina-Rimsa 19-13 *NB Prior to 1992, Savchenko represented USSR, for whom she held a 40-11 Fed Cup win-loss record

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Anastasija Sevastova is in 2nd place on the list for most Fed Cup singles match-wins by a Latvian player. She has 14-5 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles – one victory behind Ostapenko (15-9). She made her Fed Cup debut in 2005, but did not appear in the competition between 2011 and 2017, returning at the 2018 Europe/Africa Zone Group I event.

• Diana Marcinkevica will claim sole ownership of the record for most Fed Cup seasons played by a Latvian player if she contests at least one rubber this year. Since making her debut in the competition in 2009, she has competed in the Fed Cup in 9 seasons, equalling Savchenko for most Fed Cup seasons played by a Latvian player.

• Daniela Vismane is making her 4th appearance for Latvia this weekend, having also competed at both the 2017 and 2018 Europe/Africa Zone Group I events and contested the dead doubles rubber in Latvia’s victory against Russia in the 2018 World Group II play-offs. She has a 2-4 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Patricija Spaka could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend, having been nominated for the first time.

• SLOVAKIA is bidding to reach the World Group play-offs for the 3rd straight year.

• Last year, Slovakia advanced to the World Group play-offs after defeating Russia 4-1 in in the World Group II first round, but fell to Belarus 3-2 in the play-offs in Minsk.

• Slovakia has won just one of its last 5 ties on hard court. Its only victory on a hard court in that time came against Russia in the World Group II first round last year.

• Slovakia has also won just one of its last 5 away ties. Its only away victory in that time came against Italy in the 2017 World Group II first round in Forli.

• Slovakia was crowned Fed Cup champion in 2002, defeating Spain 3-1 in the Final in Gran Canaria.

• Prior to 1994, Slovakian players represented Czechoslovakia.

• Daniela Hantuchova is the most successful Slovakian player in Fed Cup history in terms of most total wins (38), most singles wins (32), most ties (32) and most years played (16).

• Slovakia is ranked No. 12 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. It was ranked No. 1 when the rankings were first introduced in November 2002 through to July 2003.

• If Slovakia wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• Dominika Cibulkova is making her first Fed Cup appearance since 2016 this weekend. She is bidding to extend a 3-match winning streak in the competition, having not lost a Fed Cup rubber since falling to in Slovakia’s 2014 World Group first round defeat to Germany. She has 20-11 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 21-19 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Viktoria Kuzmova made her Fed Cup debut in Slovakia’s World Group II first round victory against Russia last year and has won 3 of the 4 singles rubbers she has contested. She lost the only doubles rubber she has contested in the competition to date – falling to Vera Lapko/Lidziya Marozava alongside Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the decisive 5th rubber of Slovakia’s World Group play-off defeat to Belarus last year.

• Anna Karolina Schmiedlova is making her 10th Fed Cup appearance for Slovakia this weekend. Since making her debut in 2012, she has recorded a 5-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and an 8-7 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Magdalena Rybarikova is making her 2nd Fed Cup appearance since 2015 this weekend. She also competed in the World Group II first round last year, defeating Russia’s to record her first victory in a Fed Cup singles rubber since defeating Uzbekistan’s in the 2008 World Group II play- offs. She has an 8-7 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 15-11 win-loss record in the competition overall.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Rebecca Sramkova could make her 3rd appearance for Slovakia this weekend. She defeated both Sara Errani and Francesca Schiavone on her Fed Cup debut in the 2017 World Group II first round victory against Italy, but fell to Kiki Bertens on her most recent appearance, in the 2017 World Group play-off defeat to Netherlands.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Japan v Spain – Sogo Gymnastic Hall, Kita-kyushu, JPN – (hard, indoors)

Head-to-head: Spain leads 2-0 A 3rd Fed Cup meeting for the 2 nations. Japan has failed to win a rubber in either of their previous encounters – with Spain recording a 3-0 victory in the 1994 quarterfinals on neutral ground in Frankfurt and a 4-0 victory in the 2013 World Group play-offs in Barcelona.

JAPAN v SPAIN

13 Current FC Nations Ranking 14 Champion 5 times Semifinals 1996 Best Result (most recent 1998) 1964 First Year Played 1972 52 Years Played (inc 2019) 48 158 Ties Played 132 95-63 Ties Win-Loss 79-53 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 1

• JAPAN is bidding to reach the World Group play-offs for the first time since 2013, when it was relegated from the World Group after falling to this weekend’s opponents in Barcelona.

• Last year, Japan advanced to the World Group II play-offs after winning promotion from Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in New in February. The team defeated Thailand, Korea, Republic and Chinese Taipei in the group stages before defeating 2-1 in the promotion play-off. It then defeated Great Britain 3-2 in the World Group II play-offs in Miki.

• Japan is bidding to win 6 consecutive Fed Cup ties for the first time since 2011-12, when it won 7 straight ties to win back-to-back promotions from Asia/Oceania Zone Group I through World Group II and on to the World Group.

• Japan is contesting World Group II for the first time since 2014. It suffered back-to-back relegations from the World Group down to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 2013-14, and competed in Zone Group I for 4 years from 2015-18.

• Japan has won 4 of its last 5 home ties. Its only defeat in that time came against Belarus in the 2015 World Group II play-offs in Tokyo.

• Japan’s best Fed Cup result is reaching the semifinals in 1996, when it fell to USA in Nagoya. Since the current format was introduced in 2005 its best result is contesting the World Group in 2007 and 2013.

• Kazuko Sawamatsu is the most successful Japanese player in Fed Cup history. She holds the records for most Fed Cup match-wins by a Japanese player (44), most singles wins (25), most doubles wins (19) and most ties played (30).

• Japan is ranked No. 13 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest-ever position is No. 6, which it attained in April 2012 after winning promotion to the World Group. It dropped as low as No. 28 after losing 2 ties at the 2016 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I event.

• If Japan wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• Misaki Doi is making her first Fed Cup appearance since the 2017 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I event. She has an 8-7 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 9-9 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Nao Hibino won 3 of the 4 singles rubbers she contested at the 2018 Asia/Oceania Zone Group I event. She did not compete in Japan’s World Group II play-off victory against Great Britain last year. She has a 4-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and has never contested a doubles rubber in the competition.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• Kurumi Nara has won 5 of the last 6 Fed Cup singles rubbers she has contested. Her only defeat in that time came against Great Britain’s in the World Group II play-offs last year. She has a 10-7 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and won the only Fed Cup doubles match she has contested.

• Miyu Kato and Makoto Ninomiya are both bidding to maintain their perfect starts to their Fed Cup careers. Both made their debuts at the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I event last year and won all 4 doubles rubbers they contested. They also defeated Johanna Konta/ in the decisive doubles rubber in Japan’s World Group II play-off victory against Great Britain. Kato also won the only singles match she contested, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Ching-Wen in straight sets.

• SPAIN is bidding to reach the World Group play-offs for the first time since it was relegated to World Group II in 2017.

• Last year, Spain fell to Italy 3-2 in the World Group II first round in Chieti before defeating Paraguay 3-1 in the World Group II play-offs in Cartagena to maintain its World Group II status.

• Spain is bidding to end a 3-tie losing streak in away ties. It has not won an away tie since defeating Serbia 4-0 in the World Group II first round in Kraljevo – a result which is also its only victory on a hard court since defeating Estonia in the 2011 World Group II first round in Tallinn.

• Spain is a 5-time Fed Cup champion, having won the title in 1991, 1993-1995 and 1998. It is 4th on the list for most Fed Cup titles behind USA (18), Czech Republic (10) and Australia (7).

• Arantxa Sanchez Vicario is the most successful Spanish player in Fed Cup history in terms of most total wins (72), most singles (50) and doubles (22) wins, and most ties (58) and years (16) played. Her record of 72 total wins and 50 singles wins is also an all-time Fed Cup record.

• Spain is ranked No. 14 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its lowest position since 2015, when it was ranked No. 16. Its highest position is No. 2 which it held from November 2002 to April 2003 and again in July 2004.

• If Spain wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• Sara Sorribes Tormo is bidding to record her 2nd Fed Cup singles victory this weekend. Her only previous singles victory in the competition came against in Spain’s 2015 World Group II play-off victory against Argentina. She has a 3-2 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• Aliona Bolsova Zadionov could contest her first live rubber this weekend. She is making her 2nd appearance for Spain, having made her Fed Cup debut in Spain’s 2015 World Group II play-off victory against Argentina, where she won the dead doubles rubber alongside current captain .

• Georgina Garcia-Perez could contest her first Fed Cup singles rubber this weekend. She made her debut in Spain’s World Group II first round defeat to Italy last year and also played in the World Group II play-off victory against Paraguay. She contested the dead doubles rubber alongside Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on both occasions.

• Silvia Soler-Espinosa is bidding to end a 4-match Fed Cup losing streak this weekend. She has not won a Fed Cup match since defeating Urszula Radwanska in Spain’s 2014 World Group play-off defeat to Poland. She has a 4-8 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and has lost both doubles rubbers she has contested in the competition.

• Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez has been nominated for the 5th straight tie. She returned to the team in 2017 after an absence of more than 5 years. She has a 6-3 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 9-7 win-loss record overall.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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Netherlands v Canada – Maaspoort Sports & Events, ’s-Hertogenbosch, NED – (clay, indoors)

Head-to-head: Tied 3-3 A 7th meeting for the 2 nations – but their first since 1987. The nations met 3 times in the 1970s, with Netherlands winning on all 3 occasions, and 3 times in the 1980s, with Canada claiming the spoils on each occasion. This is their first meeting in a best-of-5-rubber tie and their first meeting in Netherlands.

NETHERLANDS v CANADA

10 Current FC Nations Ranking 17 Final 1968, 1997 Best Result Semifinals 1988 1963 First Year Played 1963 56 Years Played (inc 2019) 56 180 Ties Played 170 108-72 Ties Win-Loss 101-69 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

• NETHERLANDS is bidding to win immediate promotion to the World Group having been relegated last year.

• Last year, Netherlands fell to USA 3-1 in the World Group first round in Asheville and to Australia 4-1 in the World Group play-offs in Wollongong. Its defeat to USA was the first time it had been defeated without winning a live rubber since it fell 2-0 to Hungary in the 2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 5th-8th play-off.

• Netherlands is contesting its first home tie since the 2015 World Group play-offs when it defeated Canada in 's-Hertogenbosch. It played 6 consecutive away ties in 2016-18.

• Netherlands has won just one of its last 5 Fed Cup ties. Since its 8-tie winning streak ended with defeat to France in the 2016 World Group semifinals, Netherlands’ only victory has come against Slovakia in last year’s World Group play-offs.

• Netherlands has won 4 of its last 5 ties on clay. Its only defeat in a clay court tie in that time came against France in the 2016 World Group semifinals in Trélazé.

• Netherlands is a 2-time runner-up in Fed Cup, having reached the final in 1968 (l. this weekend’s opponents) and 1997 (l. France).

• Betty Stove is the most successful Dutch player in Fed Cup history in terms of total wins (45), singles wins (22) and doubles wins (23).

• Netherlands is ranked No. 10 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest position is No. 5, which it achieved in November 2016.

• If Netherlands wins this weekend, it will contest the World Group play-offs on 20-21 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 12 February.

• is appearing in the competition for an 11th year, giving her sole ownership of 3rd place on the list for most Fed Cup seasons played by a Dutch player. Only Stove and , who both contested 12 Fed Cup seasons for Netherlands, have played more years in the competition than Rus. She made her Fed Cup debut in 2008, has a 15-13 win-loss record in the competition and is contesting her 24th tie this weekend.

• Richel Hogenkamp will become the 11th Dutch player to record 10 Fed Cup singles match-wins if she wins 2 rubbers this weekend. Just 3 active Dutch players have recorded 10 or more singles match-wins in the competition – Kiki Bertens (18 singles match-wins), Arantxa Rus (15) and Michaella Krajicek (10). She has an 8-6 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 16-9 win-loss record in the competition overall.

• could make her first Fed Cup appearance since 2013 this weekend. She competed at the Europe/Africa Zone Group I events in both 2012 and 2013, winning 2 of the 5 singles rubbers she contested. She has a 3-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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• could also contest her first live rubber this weekend. She has won 2 of the 3 dead doubles rubbers she has contested.

• CANADA is bidding to reach the World Group play-offs for the first time since 2015, when it was relegated to World Group II after falling to Romania in Montreal.

• Last year, Canada fell to Romania 3-1 in the World Group II first round in Cluj-Napoca, before defeating Ukraine 3-2 in the World Group II play-offs in Montreal. Its defeat to Romania was the first time it had lost a tie without winning a rubber in live play since it fell to Czech Republic 4-0 in the 2015 World Group first round, and also ended Canada’s 5-tie winning streak in the competition.

• Canada’s best Fed Cup result is reaching the semifinals in 1988, when it fell to Czechoslovakia on neutral ground in .

• is the most successful Canadian player in Fed Cup history in terms of most total wins (40), most singles wins (32) and most ties played (36).

• Canada is ranked No. 17 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 8, which it held between April 2014 and February 2015.

• has lost 3 of her last 4 Fed Cup singles rubbers. Her only singles victory in that time came against in Canada’s 2017 World Group II play-off victory against Kazakhstan. She has a 5-3 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and has won all 3 doubles rubbers she has contested – including the decisive 5th rubber alongside Gabriela Dabrowski (d. /) in Canada’s World Group II play-off victory against Ukraine last year.

• is making her 3rd Fed Cup appearance this weekend. Her only previous appearances in the competition came in 2011, when she competed in Canada’s World Group II first round defeat to Serbia and in its World Group II play-off defeat to Slovenia. She won 2 of the 4 singles rubbers she contested and lost the only doubles rubber she played.

• Francoise Abanda is bidding to extend her 3-match winning streak in Fed Cup singles rubbers. She has not lost a singles rubber in the competition since falling to Dominika Cibulkova in Canada’s 2016 World Group II play-off defeat to Slovakia. She has a 5-4 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and lost the only Fed Cup doubles rubber she has contested.

• Gabriela Dabrowski is contesting her 12th Fed Cup tie this weekend. She fell to Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko in her first Fed Cup singles rubber since 2015 in the World Group II play-offs last year but won the decisive doubles rubber alongside Andreescu, defeating Bondarenko/Savchuk. She has a 6-5 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles but has lost all 3 singles rubbers she has contested in the competition.

2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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