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Home , 2014 Fed Cup World Group, Cindy Burger (tennis), Dominique Monami, Kathy Rinaldi, Manisha Malhotra, Natalia Vikhlyantseva

2017 FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND 11-12 February – TIE NOTES

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

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

USA (c) v Germany (s) Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui, Hawaii, USA (hard – outdoors)

Belarus (c)* v Netherlands (s) Chizhovka-Arena, Minsk, BLR (hard – indoors)

Switzerland (c) v (s) Palexpo, Geneva, SUI (hard – indoors)

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

Russia (s) (c)* v Chinese Taipei Druzhba Sport Complex, Moscow, RUS (hard – indoors)

Romania (s) (c)* v Sala Polivalenta, Bucharest, ROU (hard – indoors)

Ukraine (c) v Australia (s) Palace of Sports ‘Lokomotiv’, Kharkiv, UKR (hard – indoors)

Italy (s) (c)* v Slovakia PalaGalassi, Forli, ITA (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 22-17 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 27 February.

USA GERMANY CZECH REPUBLIC USA GER SPAIN USA** GER

SWITZERLAND FRANCE BLR FRA* NETHERLANDS SUI* NED

* choice of ground decided by lot ** extenuating cirmcumstances (the meetings between Spain and USA in 2000-04, when the competition was played as a ‘Final Four’, are disregarded for the purposes of choice of ground)

2017 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 17 • Czech Republic (5 as Czechoslovakia) 10 • Australia 7 • Spain 5 • Italy, Russia 4 • France, Germany 2 • Belgium, Slovakia, South Africa 1

COMEBACKS FROM 0-2 DOWN... There have been just 7 comebacks from 0-2 down in the World Group 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… 107 nations entered the 2017 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 (14 November 2016)

1 Czech Republic 11 Australia 2 France 12 Romania 3 Germany 13 Ukraine 4 Russia 14 Belgium 5 Netherlands 15 Slovakia 6 Italy 16 Chinese Taipei 7 Switzerland 17 Canada 8 Belarus 18 Poland 9 Spain 19 Argentina 10 USA 20 Paraguay

2017 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

Most Games in a 54: See World Group Singles Rubber (FRA) d. Naoko Sawamatsu (JPN) 75 46 1715, 1997 World Group I first round

43: 51: Most Games in a Conchita Martinez/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP) Margaret Court/Kerry Melville (AUS) d. Winnie Doubles Rubber d Mary Joe Fernandez/ (USA) 64 Shaw/Virginia Wade (GBR) 97 36 14-12,1968 67(5) 11-9, 1998 World Group I semifinal semifinal

Most Games in a Set 32: (singles) Nathalie Tauziat (FRA) d. Naoko Sawamatsu See World Group (JPN) 75 46 17-15, 1997 World Group I first round

20: Conchita Martinez/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP) d. Mary Joe Fernandez/Lisa Raymond (USA) 64 32: 67 11-9, 1998 World Group I semifinal Most Games in a Set Lucia Bassi/Daniela Porzio (ITA) d. Michele

(doubles) Gurdal/Monique Van Haver (BEL) 17-15 61, / (ITA) d. Liezel Italy d. Belgium 3-0 in 1974 first round Huber/ (USA) 46 63 11-9, 2009 World Group Final

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 Kuznetsova See World Group (RUS) 76(4) 57 10-8, 2016 World Group first round

2 hours, 28 minutes: Ekaterina Makarova/ (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. Anne Kremer/Cludine Schaul (LUX) 36 76 108, 2001 Bojana Jovanovski/Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) d. Europe/Africa Group I /Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 76(2) 46 61, 2012 World Group first round

12-10: 21-19: / (IND) d. Vlada Longest tiebreak Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. Ekshibarova/Ivanna Israilova (UZB), 76(19) 61, (BEL), 67(10) 62 61, 2011 World Group first round 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

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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CZECH REPUBLIC v SPAIN Ostravar Arena, Ostrava, CZE (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: Tied 2-2 A 5th meeting for the 2 teams. Czech Republic has won the 2 most recent meetings, including a 3-2 victory in a World Group first round encounter in 2014 when Andrea Hlavackova and Barbora Strycova combined to win the decisive doubles rubber.

CZECH REPUBLIC v SPAIN

1 Current FC Nations Ranking 9 Champion 10 times* Best Result Champion 5 times 1963 First year played 1972 47 Years played (incl 2017) 46 138 Ties played 128 102-36 Ties Win-Loss 78-50 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 1 (* 5 times as Czechoslovakia)

 Defending champion CZECH REPUBLIC is bidding to win its 10th consecutive Fed Cup tie. The team has not lost a Fed Cup tie since falling 3-1 to Italy in the 2013 semifinals

 Czech Republic is bidding to reach the Fed Cup semifinals for the 9th consecutive year. The nation has reached the last 4 every year since earning promotion back into the 2009 World Group.

 Last year, Czech Republic was crowned Fed Cup champion for the 10th time – and the 5th time in the last 6 years – after defeating France 3-2 in the Final in Strasbourg. Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova combined for the 2nd straight year to win the decisive doubles rubber, defeating France’s and .

 Earlier in 2016, Czech Republic also defeated Romania 3-2 in Cluj-Napoca in the first round and Switzerland 3-2 in the semifinals, winning the title after playing all 3 ties away from home for the 2nd time in its history – the Czechs also managed the feat in 2011. Italy (2006) is the only other nation to win the title after playing all its ties away from home since the home-and-away format was adopted in 1995.

 Czech Republic is playing its first home tie since defeating Russia in in the 2015 Final. The Czechs have not lost a home tie since falling 3-2 to USA in the 2009 semifinals.

 Czech Republic has won its last 4 ties in the decisive doubles rubber. Pliskova and Strycova have combined to defeat Russia in the 2015 Final, Romania in the 2016 first round and France in the 2016 Final, while Pliskova teamed with Lucie Hradecka to defeat Switzerland in the 2016 semifinals.

 If she wins 2 rubbers this weekend, Strycova will record her 20th Fed Cup rubber victory. She currently has an 18-9 win-loss record in the competition.

 Katerina Siniakova could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend after being named in the Czech team for the first time.

 Czech Republic has held the No. 1 spot on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking since April 2014, having first attained the top position in April 2012. The Fed Cup Nations Ranking was launched at the end of 2002 and is updated after each round.

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

 If Czech Republic wins this weekend, it will travel to face either USA or Germany in April’s semifinals.

 SPAIN is bidding to reach the Fed Cup semifinals for the first time since 2008 when the team reached the final, losing 4-0 to Russia.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 Last year, Spain won promotion back to the World Group after a 2-year spell in World Group II. The team defeated Serbia 4-0 in Kraljevo in the World Group II first round and Italy 4-0 in Lleida in the World Group play-offs.

 Spain has played 4 of its last 5 ties away from home (including this weekend’s tie). Its only home tie in that time came against Italy last year.

 Garbine Muguruza is bidding to extend her 6-match winning streak in Fed Cup singles rubbers. Muguruza has never lost a singles rubber in the competition, and has won all 6 of her singles rubbers in straight sets. Overall she has a 6-1 win-loss record in the competition.

 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez has been nominated for the first time since 2011. Martinez Sanchez last featured in Fed Cup in Spain’s 4-1 World Group play-off victory against France in April 2011. She has a 6-3 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 7-5 win-loss record overall.

 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 (17), this weekend’s opponent (10) and Australia (7).

 Spain rose to No. 9 in the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest position since February 2014 – after winning promotion to the World Group in April last year.

 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario is the most successful Spaniard 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.

 If Spain wins this weekend, it will travel to face either USA or Germany in April’s semifinals.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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USA v GERMANY Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui, Hawaii, USA (hard – outdoors)

Head-to-head: USA leads 8-5 A 14th meeting for these 2 nations but their first since 2011. On that occasion, Germany whitewashed USA 5-0 in a World Group play-off tie in Stuttgart, but the Americans won the 2 clashes prior to that – a World Group first round tie in Ettenheim in 2006 and a meeting at the same stage in La Jolla in 2008.

USA are 17-time Fed Cup champions, compared to Germany’s 2 titles – but the Germans have had more success in recent years, reaching the Final in 2014 while USA was relegated to World Group II in the same year before winning promotion back to the World Group last April.

USA V GERMANY

10 Current FC Nations Ranking 3 Champion 17 times Best Result Champion 2 times 1963 First Year Played 1963 54 Years Played (inc 2017) 53 182 Ties Played 144 146-36 Ties Win-Loss 92-52 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

 USA is aiming to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2010, when the team finished runner-up to Italy.

 USA is competing in the World Group after a 2-year absence. The team was relegated in 2014 and failed to win promotion the following year. Last year, USA defeated Poland 4-0 in the World Group II first round in Kailua Kona before defeating Australia 4-0 in Brisbane in the World Group play-offs to secure promotion.

 USA is bidding to win 3 consecutive Fed Cup ties for the first time since 2002-03, when the team won 4 straight ties before falling to France in the 2003 Final.

 Coco Vandeweghe is bidding to win her 2nd Fed Cup singles rubber this weekend, having won her first against Sam Stosur in the World Group play-offs last year. Vandeweghe made her debut in the 2010 Final against Italy, losing both rubbers she contested, and did not feature in the competition again until 2015.

 Shelby Rogers could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend after being named in the team for the first time.

 Bethanie Mattek-Sands is aiming to continue her perfect Fed Cup doubles record this weekend. Mattek- Sands returned to the team last year for the first time since 2011, winning her 4th and 5th Fed Cup doubles rubbers in the World Group II first round and the World Group play-offs respectively. She has a 5-0 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles rubbers and a 7-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

 Captain takes charge of USA for the first time this weekend. Rinaldi was previously captain of USA’s Junior Fed Cup team. She never competed in Fed Cup for USA.

 USA has been crowned Fed Cup champion 17 times – more than any other nation, but has not won the title since 2000.

 USA is ranked No. 10 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. Its highest ranking is No. 2 – attained in April 2004 and again in November 2010.

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).

 If USA wins this weekend it will host either Czech Republic or Spain in the semifinals.

 GERMANY is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the 3rd time in the last 4 years.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 Last year, Germany fell 3-2 to Switzerland in the World Group first round in Leipzig – its first defeat in a first round clash since winning promotion to the World Group in 2013 – before defeating Romania 4-1 in the World Group play-offs in Cluj-Napoca.

is bidding to win her 15th Fed Cup rubber this weekend. Petkovic has also been nominated for the 15th time, and has played in all but one of the ties for which she was nominated. She has a 14-9 win-loss record in the competition, and a 12-6 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers.

 Laura Siegemund and Carina Witthoeft could make their Fed Cup debuts this weekend, having both been nominated for the first time.

 Germany is ranked No. 3 in the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its joint-highest ranking, having first risen to No. 3 in February 2015.

 Germany is a 2-time Fed Cup champion, having won the title in 1987 and 1992. More recently, the nation finished runner-up in 2014, falling to Czech Republic in the Final in Prague. 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).

 If Germany wins this weekend it will host either Czech Republic or Spain in April’s semifinals.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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BELARUS v NETHERLANDS Chizhovka-Arena, Minsk, BLR (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: Netherlands leads 3-0 Belarus is aiming to defeat Netherlands for the first time, having lost all 3 of the nations’ previous meetings. The teams last met in 2014 at the Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Budapest, when Richel Hogenkamp and defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich and respectively to secure Netherlands’ place in the 2014 World Group II play-offs.

Netherlands also won meetings between the 2 teams in 1994 and 1999. This is the first time that the teams have contested a tie in the best-of-five format.

BELARUS v NETHERLANDS

8 Current FC Nations Ranking 5 WG 1R 2017 Best Result Runner-up 2 times 1994 First Year Played 1963 24 Years Played (inc 2017) 54 95 Ties Played 176 67-28 Ties Win-Loss 107-69 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

 BELARUS is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the first time. By winning promotion to the World Group last year, Belarus recorded its best result since the current format was adopted.

 Last year, Belarus won promotion to the World Group for the first time. The team defeated Canada 3-2 in Quebec City in the World Group II first round and Russia 3-2 in the World Group play-offs in Moscow to secure promotion.

 Belarus is bidding to extend its 7-tie winning streak. It has not lost a Fed Cup tie since losing to this weekend’s opponent in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in February 2014.

 Belarus is contesting its first tie on home soil since 2011, when it defeated Estonia 5-0 in the World Group II play-offs in Minsk. Since then the team has always competed away from home – in Zone Group I events in Israel and Hungary and 5 ties in the home-and-away format.

 Olga Govortsova is contesting her 30th Fed Cup tie for Belarus this weekend. Govortsova has played Fed Cup since 2008 and has a 25-12 win-loss record in the competition.

 Aliaksandra Sasnovich is bidding to win her 10th Fed Cup singles rubber this weekend. Sasnovich has a 9- 7 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 14-9 win-loss record in the competition overall.

 Both Aryna Sabalenka and Vera Lapko could make their Fed Cup singles debuts this weekend. Sabalenka’s only previous appearance in the competition came in a doubles rubber defeat in last year’s World Group play-off against Russia, while Lapko played – and won – 3 doubles rubbers at the 2015 Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Budapest.

 Belarus is ranked No. 8 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest ranking since the rankings were introduced in 2002.

is the most successful Belarusian player in Fed Cup history in terms of most total wins (37), most ties (45) and years (15) played.

 If Belarus wins this weekend it will host Switzerland or travel to France in April’s semifinals.

 NETHERLANDS is bidding to reach back-to-back World Group semifinals for the first time since 1968-69.

 Last year, Netherlands reached the semifinals for the first time since 1997 (when the team . Netherlands upset Russia 3-1 in the World Group first round in Moscow, before falling 3-2 to France in the semifinals in Trélazé.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 Netherlands has won 8 of its last 9 Fed Cup ties. Prior to its defeat to France in last year’s semifinals, Netherlands had won 8 consecutive ties, having not lost a tie since falling to Hungary at the Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in 2013.

 Netherlands is competing in the World Group for 2 consecutive years for the first time since 1997-98. By winning promotion to the World Group in 2015, Netherlands ended a 17-year absence from the top tier of the competition.

 Kiki Bertens is bidding to extend her 7-match winning streak in Fed Cup singles rubbers, having not lost a singles rubber since falling to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in Netherlands’ 4-1 victory over Slovakia in World Group II in 2015. She has a 15-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 21-3 win-loss record in the competition overall.

 Cindy Burger could make her Fed Cup singles debut this weekend. Burger has played just one Fed Cup rubber – a doubles defeat in Netherlands’ victory against Russia in the World Group first round last year.

 Netherlands is a 2-time runner-up in Fed Cup, having reached the final in 1968 (l. Australia) and 1997 (l. France).

 Netherlands is ranked No. 5 on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest ever position. It broke into the Top 10 at No. 6 for the first time in April 2015.

 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).

 If Netherlands wins this weekend it will either host France or travel to Switzerland in April’s semifinals.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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SWITZERLAND v FRANCE Palexpo, Geneva, SUI (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: France leads 2-1 A 4th meeting for the 2 nations, with France winning their only clash in recent times – a World Group II first round tie in 2014. Switzerland defeated France in the 1998 semifinals on its way to posting a best-ever Fed Cup result, finishing runner-up after falling to Spain in the Final.

SWITZERLAND v FRANCE

7 Current FC Nations Ranking 2 Runner-up 1998 Best Result Champion 2 times 1963 First Year Played 1963 53 Years Played (inc 2017) 55 136 Ties Played 146 76-60 Ties Win-Loss 89-57 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 1

 SWITZERLAND is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the 2nd straight year.

 Switzerland is making back-to-back appearances in the World Group for the first time since the 8-team World Group was introduced in 2005. Last year, the Swiss defeated Germany 3-2 in the World Group first round in Leipzig before falling 3-2 to Czech Republic in the World Group semifinals in Lucerne.

 Switzerland is bidding to win its first home tie since February 2013. The team has lost both of the ties it has contested on home soil since defeating Belgium in the 2013 World Group II first round – a 3-1 defeat to Australia in the 2013 World Group play-offs and the World Group semifinal defeat to Czech Republic last year.

 Switzerland has won 4 of its last 5 Fed Cup ties. The defeat to Czech Republic ended a 4-tie winning streak in the competition – prior to that the team’s last defeat was to this weekend’s opponent in February 2014.

 If she wins 2 rubbers this weekend, will record her 25th Fed Cup rubber victory. Bacsinszky has played Fed Cup for Switzerland since 2004 and currently has a 23-20 win-loss record in the competition.

is looking to continue her perfect record in Fed Cup singles rubbers. Golubic won both of her rubbers in the 2016 semifinal defeat to Czech Republic, beating Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova – both higher-ranked players. She has a 4-2 win-loss record in the competition overall.

could win her 10th Fed Cup doubles rubber this weekend. Hingis returned to the team in 2015 after an absence of 17 years. She has a 1-3 win-loss record in the competition since her return and a 27-7 win-loss record overall.

 Switzerland’s best Fed Cup result is finishing runner-up in 1998. The team of Hingis 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 (37) and years (12) played.

 Switzerland is ranked No. 7 in the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest position since the rankings were introduced in November 2002.

 If Switzerland wins this weekend it will host Netherlands or travel to Belarus in April’s semifinals.

 2016 finalist FRANCE is bidding to reach the World Group semifinals for the 3rd straight year. The last time France reached the semifinals in 3 consecutive years was 2003-05, when the team reached 3 straight Finals.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 Last year, France reached the Final for the first time since finishing runner-up to Russia in 2005. The team defeated Italy 4-1 in the World Group first round in Marseille and Netherlands 3-2 in the World Group semifinals in Trélazé before falling to Czech Republic 3-2 in the Final, with Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova defeating Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in the decisive doubles rubber.

 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.

 Kristina Mladenovic could win her 10th Fed Cup doubles rubber this weekend. Mladenovic lost a Fed Cup doubles rubber for the first time in the 2016 Final. She has a 9-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles and a 12-6 win-loss record in the competition overall.

 Alize Cornet is bidding to win her first Fed Cup singles rubber since February 2014 this weekend. Cornet has lost all 3 Fed Cup singles rubbers that she has contested since defeating Timea Bacsinszky in France’s 3-2 victory against this weekend’s opponent in the 2014 World Group II first round. She has a 3-13 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and a 6-17 win-loss record in the competition overall.

 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.

 Captain Yannick Noah is resuming his role as Fed Cup captain after a 19-year absence. Noah captained the team in 1997-98, during which time the team won the Fed Cup title for the first time. Overall, France won 4 and lost one of its ties with Noah as captain. Noah is also captain of the French Davis Cup team.

 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 Nathalie Tauziat defeated Naoko Sawamatsu 75 46 1715.

 Former captain 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 overall wins.

 France is currently ranked No. 2 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 host Belarus or travel to Netherlands in April’s semifinals.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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RUSSIA v CHINESE TAIPEI Druzhba Sport Complex, Moscow, RUS (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: Russia leads 1-0 Russia, competing under the flag of USSR, won the only previous meeting between the 2 nations 3-0 in the World Group second round in Nagoya, Japan in 1985.

RUSSIA v CHINESE TAIPEI

4 Current FC Nations Ranking 16 World Group II 2017, Champion 4 times Best Result Last 16 1981 1968 First Year Played 1972 41 Years Played (inc 2017) 42 131 Ties Played 147 90-41 Ties Win-Loss 73-74 2 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

 RUSSIA is bidding to avoid having to contest the World Group II play-offs for the first time since 1997.

 Russia is contesting World Group II for the first time since 1998. Last year Russia lost both of its ties in Moscow, falling 3-1 to Netherlands in the World Group first round and 3-2 to Belarus in the World Group play-offs, ending the nation’s 19-year stay in the World Group.

 Russia is bidding to avoid a 4th consecutive Fed Cup defeat this weekend. It has lost its last 3 Fed Cup ties – the first time in the nation’s history it has done so* – against Belarus and Netherlands last year, and against Czech Republic in the 2015 Final. [*NB. Russia gave two walkovers in 1976 in between defeats to Great Britain in 1968 and Australia in 1978]

 Russia is a 4-time Fed Cup champion – winning the title in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. It has reached the final on a further 7 occasions, most recently in a 3-2 defeat to Czech Republic in the 2015 Final.

 Russia is ranked No. 4 on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking. It held the top spot from September 2005 through to April 2009.

 Svetlana Kuznetsova is the most successful Russian player in Fed Cup history with a 27-13 overall win- loss record. (NB Latvian Larisa Savchenko compiled a 40-11 win-loss record under the flag of USSR).

 Ekaterina Makarova is the only member of this weekend’s Russia team to have played Fed Cup before. The Russian has a 4-3 win-loss record in singles and a 5-0 win-loss record in doubles in the 7 Fed Cup ties she has played since 2008.

 3 of the 4 members of the Russian team – 19-year-old Natalia Vikhlyantseva and 18-year-olds Anna Blinkova and – have been nominated to play Fed Cup for the first time this weekend.

 If Russia wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

 CHINESE TAIPEI is bidding to reach the World Group Play-offs for the first time and record its best Fed Cup result.

 By reaching the World Group II first round for the first time, Chinese Taipei has equalled its best Fed Cup result. It also reached the last 16 in Fed Cup in 1981, when the competition was played as a week-long event.

 Chinese Taipei is bidding to record its 7th straight tie win and record its longest Fed Cup winning streak. Its current 6-tie winning streak is its longest since winning 6 ties in a row from 2006-2007 in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 Last year Chinese Taipei recorded 2-1 victories over China, P.R., Kazakhstan, Korea, Rep. and Japan in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I, before defeating Poland 4-1 in the World Group II play-offs in Inowroclaw.

 Chinese Taipei is ranked No. 16 on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest position since the rankings were introduced in November 2002. Chinese Taipei had dropped to its lowest ever ranking as recently as April 2015, when it was ranked No. 50.

 Ya-Hsuan Lee is looking to record just her 2nd Fed Cup singles victory this weekend. She has a 1-3 win- loss record in singles, with her only previous Fed Cup singles win coming against Poland’s Paula Kania in the 2016 World Group II play-offs. She has a 2-7 win-loss record in Fed Cup rubbers overall.

 Ching-Wen Hsu is bidding to maintain her undefeated start to her Fed Cup career. She won both of her singles rubbers – including the decisive 4th rubber – on her Fed Cup debut in Chinese Taipei’s 4-1 World Group play-off victory over Poland in the nation’s last tie.

 Chin-Wei Chan is the most experienced player in the Chinese Taipei team with a 21-18 overall win-loss record in the 29 ties she has played since making her Fed Cup debut in 2002. She will equal Shi-Ting Wang’s record for the most years played (11) for Chinese Taipei if she plays this weekend.

 If Chinese Taipei wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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ROMANIA v BELGIUM Sala Polivalenta, Bucharest, ROU (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: Belgium leads 3-0 This is the 4th meeting between these 2 nations, but their first since 1995. Belgium has lost just one rubber against Romania – when -Ilie defeated in straight sets in their Europe/Africa Zone Group I clash in La Manga, Spain in 1995.

This is the first time these 2 nations have met away from a clay court.

Romania and Belgium are both fielding debutant Fed Cup captains for this tie. Ilie Nastase, the former world No. 1 and 2-time champion leads the Romanian Fed Cup team for the first time, while former world No. 9 , who played 21 Fed Cup ties between 1991 and 2000, returns to the Belgian team in a new role as captain.

ROMANIA v BELGIUM

12 Current FC Nations Ranking 14 5 Quarterfinals, 2016 Best Result 2001 Champions WG 1R 1973 First year played 1963 37 Years played (incl 2017) 53 130 Ties played 148 75-54 Ties Win-Loss 77-70 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

 ROMANIA is bidding to avoid contesting the World Group II play-offs for the first time since 2014.

 Last year, Romania contested the World Group for the first time since the 8-nation top-tier format was introduced in 1995. Its presence in the last 8 equalled its best Fed Cup result – having finished as quarterfinalists in 1973-74, 1978 and 1980-81. Romania lost 3-2 to Czech Republic in the World Group first round before falling to Germany 4-1 in the World Group play-offs. Both ties were held in Cluj-Napoca.

 Romania has won 7 of its last 9 Fed Cup ties. Its only defeats in that time came last year – on its World Group debut and in the World Group play-offs.

 Ruxandra Dragomir-Ilie is Romania’s most successful Fed Cup player in terms of total wins (30) and most singles wins (21). has recorded the most doubles wins (14) for Romania, and also holds the record for most ties (33) and years (10) played.

 Niculescu can equal Dragomir-Ilie’s record for most overall wins for Romania if she wins a rubber this weekend. Niculescu has a 29-18 overall win-loss record in Fed Cup, one behind Dragomir-Ilie (30-17).

 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 at No. 12.

 Sorana Cirstea returns to the Romania team for the first time since the 2014 World Group II play-offs, when she won both of her singles rubbers in a 4-1 victory over Serbia. Cirstea has a 10-4 singles win-loss record in Fed Cup and a 14-10 win-loss record overall in the 15 ties she has played since 2006.

 Irina-Camelia Begu is bidding to end a 3-match losing streak in Fed Cup rubbers (singles and doubles). She has not won a rubber since winning a singles and doubles rubber in Romania’s 3-2 victory over Spain in the World Group II quarterfinals. Begu has a 10-8 win-loss record for Romania overall in the 12 ties she has played since 2010.

 Patricia Maria Tig, the world No. 106, has been nominated for Romania for the first time and could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend.

 If Romania wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 BELGIUM is contesting World Group II for the first time since 2013 after 3 years in Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

 Belgium is bidding to record its 6th consecutive tie victory, having won 5 straight ties in earning promotion from Europe/Africa Zone Group I last year. This would be the nation’s longest winning streak since winning 9 ties in a row to earn promotions from Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 1995 and World Group II in 1996 before losing in the World Group semifinals in 1997.

 Last year Belgium defeated Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Great Britain without dropping a rubber at the Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Eilat, Israel, before defeating Serbia 3-2 in the World Group II play-offs in Belgrade.

 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.

 Yanina Wickmayer is on a 3-match winning streak for Belgium, having not lost a Fed Cup singles rubber since falling to Portugal’s Michelle Larcher De Brito in straight sets in the 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Budapest. Wickmayer has a 22-8 win-loss record in singles and a 25-12 win-loss record overall in the 18 Fed Cup ties she has played since 2007.

has a 12-27 win-loss record in Fed Cup rubbers overall, with an 11-19 record in singles and 1-8 in doubles in the 23 ties she has played since making her debut in 2003.

 Elise Mertens, the world No. 83, and , the world No. 123, have been nominated for Belgium for the first time and could make their Fed Cup debuts this weekend.

 Belgium is ranked No. 14 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – it’s highest ranking since February 2013. Belgium reached its highest ranking of No. 2 in July 2003.

 If Belgium wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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UKRAINE v AUSTRALIA Palace of Sports ‘Lokomotiv’, Kharkiv, UKR (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: Ukraine leads 2-1 A 4th meeting between these 2 nations in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas but their first since 2011, when Ukraine won 3-2 in the World Group play-offs in Melbourne courtesy of a decisive doubles victory for Olga Savchuk and in the fifth rubber.

This is the 2nd time these 2 nations have met in the World Group II first round, with Ukraine winning their only previous meeting at this stage of the competition 4-1 in Australia in 2007.

The away team has always won in their 3 previous encounters.

UKRAINE v AUSTRALIA

13 Current FC Nations Ranking 11 WG 1R 2010, 2012 Best Result Champion 7 times 1993 First Year Played 1963 25 Years Played (inc 2017) 55 85 Ties Played 176 49-36 Ties Win-Loss 125-51 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 1

 UKRAINE is bidding to record its 50th Fed Cup tie victory this weekend.

 Ukraine is bidding to reach the World Group play-offs for the first time since 2012. The nation’s best Fed Cup result is reaching the World Group in 2010 and 2012, losing to Italy on both occasions.

 Ukraine is bidding to record its 6th consecutive Fed Cup tie victory. It has not won 6 ties in a row since winning 7 consecutive ties from Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2006 through to the World Group play-offs in 2008.

 Last year Ukraine defeated Portugal, Sweden and Israel without losing a rubber in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Eilat, Israel before defeating Argentina 4-0 in the World Group II play-offs in Kiev. As a result, Ukraine ended a 3-year stay in Europe/Africa Zone Group I to earn promotion to World Group II for the first time since 2013.

 Ukraine is ranked No. 13 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest ranking since November 2012.

 Lesia Tsurenko is on a 5-match winning streak in Fed Cup singles rubbers. She has not lost a rubber since falling to Great Britain’s Johanna Konta in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2015. She has a 9-9 win-loss record in singles rubbers and a 12-11 win-loss record in Fed Cup overall.

 Olga Savchuk holds the Ukrainian record for the most doubles wins (17) and most years played (10* - 11 if she plays this weekend).

 Elina Svitolina, the world No. 13, has a 7-6 win-loss record in the 11 ties she has played for Ukraine since 2012.

 If Ukraine wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

 AUSTRALIA is looking to avoid contesting the World Group II play-offs for the first time since 2009.

 Australia has lost 4 of its last 5 Fed Cup ties. It’s only victory in that time came in a 3-2 triumph over Slovakia in the World Group II first round last year.

 Last year Australia defeated Slovakia in the World Group II first round in Bratislava but lost 4-0 to USA in the World Group play-offs in Brisbane.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 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 (17) and Czech Republic (10). It is one of only 4 nations to have competed in every Fed Cup.

 Australia is ranked No. 11 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its lowest position since February 2010. Australia’s highest ranking is No. 4, which it reached in February 2014.

is bidding to record her first Fed Cup rubber victory on her 2nd appearance for Australia. Gavrilova lost both her singles and doubles rubbers in straight sets on her Fed Cup debut for Australia in their 4-0 defeat to USA in the 2016 World Group play-offs.

is making her first Fed Cup appearance since April 2014, having spent 17-months away from playing professional cricket. She has a 3-1 overall win-loss record in Fed Cup, and won the only singles rubber she has contested against Stefanie Voegele in the 2013 World Group play-offs.

is bidding to win a Fed Cup rubber for the first time. She has a 0-2 record in the competition, having lost to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the World Group II first round last year in singles, and in doubles with Gavrilova (l. Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Coco Vandeweghe) in last year’s World Group play- offs.

has a 6-5 win-loss record in singles and a 10-4 win-loss record in doubles in the 18 Fed Cup ties she has played for Australia since making her debut in 2006.

 If Australia wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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ITALY v SLOVAKIA PalaGalassi, Forli, ITA (clay – indoors)

Head-to-head: Slovakia leads 1-0 Slovakia won its only previous meeting with Italy en route to winning its lone Fed Cup title in 2002, defeating Italy 3-1 in the World Group semifinals in Gran Canaria courtesy of two singles victories for Janette Husarova and one for Daniela Hantuchova after had given Italy the opening point of the tie.

ITALY v SLOVAKIA

6 Current FC Nations Ranking 15 Champion 4 times Best Result 2002 Champion 1963 First Year Played 1994 55 Years Played (inc 2017) 24 131 Ties Played 56 73-58 Ties Win-Loss 33-23 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

 ITALY is looking to avoid contesting the World Group II play-offs for the first time since 1997.

 Last year, Italy fell to France in the World Group first round for the 2nd straight year, losing 4-1 in Marseille before falling to a 4-0 defeat to Spain in the World Group play-offs in Lleida.

 Italy is contesting World Group II for the first time since 1998 after 18 straight years the World Group. Last year was only the 4th time it had lost in the World Group first round since earning promotion from World Group II in 1998 – having also lost at that stage in 2005, 2008 and 2015.

 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.

 Italy is ranked No. 6 on the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its lowest position since April 2006. It held the top spot from November 2009 through to February 2012 and again from November 2013 through to February 2014.

 Francesca Schiavone is Italy’s most successful Fed Cup player in terms of most total wins (26) and most singles wins (22).

 Sara Errani is record her first Fed Cup singles victory since defeating USA’s in the 2015 World Group play-offs. Errani has a 12-11 win-loss record in singles and a 21-15 win-loss record in Fed Cup overall.

 Nineteen-year-old Jasmine Paoline, ranked No. 215, and 23-year-old lefthander Martina Trevisan, the world No. 230, have been nominated for Italy for the first time and could make their Fed Cup debuts this weekend.

 Tathiana Garbin is taking charge of her first Fed Cup tie as Italy captain. Garbin, a former world No. 22 in singles, played 11 Fed Cup ties for Italy between 1999 and 2008, compiling a 6-7 overall win-loss record.

 If Italy wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

 SLOVAKIA is bidding to avoid contesting the World Group II play-offs for a 3rd straight year.

 Slovakia has lost 5 of its last 7 Fed Cup encounters. It dropped into the World Group II play-offs last year for the 2nd straight year after losing 3-2 to Australia in the World Group II first round in Bratislava. Slovakia avoided relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group I after defeating Canada 3-2 in the World Group II play-offs in Bratislava.

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

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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 Slovakia is ranked No. 15 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking. It dropped as low as No. 17 in February 2016 – its lowest position in the history of the rankings. Slovakia was ranked No. 1 when the rankings were first introduced in November 2002 through to July 2003.

 Daniela Hantuchova is the most successful Slovak player in Fed Cup history in terms of most total wins (36), most singles wins (31), most ties (30) and most years played (15). She will contest her 31st tie in her 16th year of playing Fed Cup if she takes to court this weekend.

 Twenty-year-old Rebecca Sramkova, the world No. 119 in singles, has been nominated for Slovakia for the first time and could make her Fed Cup debut this weekend.

 If Slovakia wins this weekend it will contest the World Group play-offs on 22-23 April. The draw will be held at the ITF offices on 14 February.

2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group/World Group II First Round Tie Notes

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