2016 FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS, WORLD GROUP & WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS 16-17 April

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

Switzerland (c) v Czech Republic (s) Messe Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland (hard – indoors)

France (c) v Netherlands Arena Loire, Trelaze, (clay – indoors) (s) = seed (c) choice of ground

FIVE FINALS IN SIX YEARS? Defending champion Czech Republic is looking to reach its 5th Fed Cup Final in 6 years having reached the Final - and gone on to win the title - in 2011-12, 2014 and 2015. Spain is the last nation to reach 5 finals over a 6-year spell – winning the title in 1993-1995 and 1998, and finishing runner-up in 1996. The Czechs are looking to become the first team to win 3 straight Fed Cup titles since Spain in 1993-95.

LOOKING TO END THEIR BARREN RUN… Netherlands, Switzerland and France are all looking to end a lengthy wait for a place in the Fed Cup Final. The Dutch have not played for the title since losing to France in 1997, Switzerland is looking for a place in its first Final since finishing runner-up in 1998, while France is seeking a place in the title decider for the first time since 2005.

UNSEEDED NATIONS… Czech Republic is the only seeded nation to feature in the World Group semifinals. It is the first time since seedings were introduced at the end of 2002 that only one seeded nation has featured in the semifinals. 5 unseeded nations have reached the Fed Cup Final but Italy is the only unseeded nation to win the title, defeating Belgium in the 2006 Final.

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

Russia (s) (c)* v Belarus Luzhniki Small Sports Arena, , RUS (clay – indoors)

Spain (c) v Italy (s) Club de Lleida, Lleida, ESP (clay – outdoors)

Romania (c)* v Germany (s) Sala Polivalenta Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, ROU (clay – indoors)

Australia (s) (c)* v USA Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, AUS (clay – outdoors)

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

Serbia (s) (c)* v Belgium Aleksandar Nikolic Arena (Pionir Hall), , SRB (clay – indoors)

Slovakia (c) v Canada (s) Aegon Arena National Tennis Centre, Bratislava, SVK (clay – indoors)

Poland (s) (c)* v Chinese Taipei ORiR Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa, Inowroclaw, POL (hard – indoors)

Ukraine (c) v Argentina (s) Campa Tennis Club, Bucha, Kiev, UKR (hard – outdoors) (s) = seed (c) = choice of ground * = choice of ground was decided by lot

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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• After suffering one of the biggest upsets on record in the World Group first round against Netherlands, Russia will be looking to bounce back and maintain its 18-year stay in the World Group when it takes on Belarus in Moscow. Russia is looking to avoid dropping into World Group II for the first time since 1998 in only its 2nd World Group play-off since 2006, while Belarus is through to this stage of the competition for the first time in its history and will hope to break further ground by winning a place in the top tier.

• Five-time champion Spain is seeking to end its 2-year stay in World Group II in the nation’s first home tie since April 2014. Victory in the World Group play-offs would see visitors Italy lose the World Group status that it has held for 18 years, with Corrado Barazzutti’s team having not played in World Group II since 1998.

• After earning a place in the World Group for 2016 for the first time since the 8-nation top-tier format was introduced in 1995, Romania will bid to maintain its status in the elite group of nations for another year when it takes on Germany in Cluj-Napoca. Romania has won 7 of its last 8 Fed Cup ties, and will hope to inflict Germany’s 3rd defeat in its last 4 Fed Cup ties and condemn ’s team to a return to World Group II for the first time since 2013.

• USA (17 Fed Cup titles) and Australia (7 titles) are two of the most successful Fed Cup nations, alongside 9-time champion Czech Republic, but their clash in Brisbane is the first meeting between the two teams since 1985. The historical advantage is with USA, who has won six of their last 7 meetings, and also won the last tie it contested on Australian soil in the Final in Melbourne in 1978. A win for Australia would give it an immediate return to the World Group having been relegated at this stage last year, while USA is looking to end its 2-year stay in World Group II.

• Serbia will be hoping to put the brakes on Belgium’s 4-tie winning streak when the two teams meet in Belgrade. Belgium is looking to end its 3-year stay in Europe/Africa Zone Group I and has reason to be confident having won 2 of its 3 previous encounters with Serbia, although the hosts won their most recent meeting on Belgian soil in 2012.

• Slovakia faces the prospect of slipping into Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the first time since 2006 when it takes on Canada in Bratislava. After 3 years away from Americas Zone Group I, Canada will also be hoping to avoid a return to Zone Group competition. Canada won the most recent tie between the two teams in Quebec City in 2014, while Slovakia won their first meeting 5-0 in Bratislava in 1997.

• Having also reached the World Group II play-offs in 1999 and 2007, Chinese Taipei is hoping to go one better than its best Fed Cup performance when it faces off against Poland in Inowroclaw. The visiting team faces a stern test, with Poland determined to bring an end to a 3-tie losing streak that has seen it drop from the World Group to the cusp of a return to Zone Group competition.

• Ukraine and Argentina will each hope to build on a run of 4-straight wins in Zone Group competition when they duel in Kiev. Ukraine strolled through Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Eilat in February without losing a rubber and will be confident of a place in World Group II for the first time since 2013, while Argentina is hoping for an immediate exit from Americas Zone Group I after falling to Spain at this stage last year. It could be tough for the Argentines – this is their first Fed Cup tie on a hard court since July 2011, with their previous 15 ties being played on their favoured clay.

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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CHOICE OF GROUND – WORLD GROUP FINAL

The Fed Cup Final will take place on 12-13 November. Below is the choice of ground for all potential match- ups. The venue details are due to be submitted to the ITF by 16 June.

Possible Final Venue CZECH REPUBLIC v FRANCE FRA CZECH REPUBLIC v NETHERLANDS NED SWITZERLAND v FRANCE SUI SWITZERLAND v NETHERLANDS SUI* *Choice of ground was decided by lot

PAST CHAMPIONS

In total, 11 nations have won the Fed Cup.

- USA 17 - Czech Republic (5 as Czechoslovakia) 9 - 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: (Czech Republic d. Australia 4-0, 2013 World Group first round/ Italy d. Australia 4-1, 2011 World Group first round).

PARTICIPATING NATIONS… 102 nations entered the 2016 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 (8 February 2016)

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

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match 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 1412,1968 67(5) 119, 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 1715, 1997 World Group I first round

20: Conchita Martinez/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP) d. Mary Joe Fernandez/Lisa Raymond (USA) 64 32: 67 119, 1998 World Group I semifinal Most Games in a Set Lucia Bassi/Daniela Porzio (ITA) d. Michele

(doubles) Gurdal/Monique Van Haver (BEL) 1715 61, Sara Errani/ (ITA) d. Liezel Italy d. Belgium 3-0 in 1974 first round Huber/Vania King (USA) 46 63 119, 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. See World Group (RUS) 76(4) 57 10-8, 2016 World Group first round

2 hours, 28 minutes: E Makarova/E. Vesnina (RUS) d. D. Cibulkova/D. Hantuchova (SVK) 46 63 61, 2013 World Group 3 hours, 35 minutes: Longest doubles rubber semifinal Tzipi Obziler/Hila Rosen (ISR) d. Anne Kremer/Cludine Schaul (LUX) 36 76 108, 2001 B. Jovanovski/A. Krunic (SRB) d. Y. Wickmayer/A. Europe/Africa Group I Van Uytvanck (BEL) 76(2) 46 61, 2012 World Group first round

12-10: 21-19: Manisha Malhotra/Sania Mirza (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

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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SWITZERLAND v CZECH REPUBLIC Messe Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland (hard – indoors)

Head-to-head: Czech Republic leads 5-1 The 2 teams have met 6 times in Fed Cup, but not since 2000 when the Czechs won 2-1 in their World Group round robin clash in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Switzerland has not defeated Czech Republic since 1998, when won 2 singles and a doubles rubber to help her nation to a 4-1 victory in the World Group first round in Brno. Switzerland went on to finish runner-up that year – the only time the Swiss have reached the Fed Cup Final.

SWITZERLAND v CZECH REPUBLIC

7 Current FC Nations Ranking 1 Runner-up 1998 Best Result Champion 9 times* 1963 First year played 1963 52 Years played (incl 2016) 46 135 Ties played 136 76-59 Ties Win-Loss 100-36 0 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0 (* 5 times as Czechoslovakia)

• SWITZERLAND is bidding to reach the Fed Cup Final for the first time since 1998, when it finished runner- up to Spain.

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

• Switzerland is bidding to record its 5th straight Fed Cup victory this weekend. The nation has not won 5 consecutive ties since 2007-08, when it won 7 consecutive ties to escape Europe/Africa Zone Group I and climb into World Group II.

• Switzerland is featuring in the World Group for the first time since 2004 this year. Last year, the Swiss defeated Sweden 3-1 in Helsingborg in World Group II, before earning promotion back to the top tier with a 3-2 victory over Poland in the World Group play-offs in Zielona Gora.

• Switzerland is contesting its first home tie since April 2013, when it fell to Australia in the World Group play-offs in Chiasso in 2013. It has played its last 5 ties on away soil.

• Patty 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.

• Martina Hingis was a key player in Switzerland’s last appearance in a Fed Cup semifinal in 1998, defeating France’s Julie Halard-Decugis and Amelie Mauresmo in singles as the Swiss team won 5-0 in Sion to reach the Fed Cup Final for the first time. Hingis has an 18-4 win-loss record in singles and a 9-2 win-loss record in doubles rubbers.

• Timea Bacsinszky is the most experienced player in the Swiss team in terms of ties played. She has played 20 ties for Switzerland prior to this one, compiling a 17-13 win-loss record in singles and a 6-5 win-loss record in doubles rubbers.

• could make her Fed Cup singles debut this weekend. She has a 2-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup doubles rubbers. In her last Fed Cup outing, she partnered Bacsinszky to defeat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska and Alicija Rosolska in the deciding rubber of the 2015 World Group Play-off 26 64 97.

• Switzerland is ranked No. 7 in the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its highest position since the rankings were introduced in November 2002. 2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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• If Switzerland wins this weekend it will host either France or Netherlands in November’s Final.

• Defending champion CZECH REPUBLIC is bidding to reach the Fed Cup Final for the 5th time in 6 years.

• Czech Republic has advanced to the semifinals for the 8th consecutive year after defeating Romania 3- 2 in the World Group first round in Cluj-Napoca.

• Czech Republic is bidding to extend its 7-tie Fed Cup winning streak. It has not lost a Fed Cup tie since losing 3-1 to Italy in the 2013 World Group semifinals in Palermo. That defeat was its last loss away from home, having won its last 3 ties on away soil.

• Last year, Czech Republic was crowned Fed Cup champion for the 9th time after defeating Russia 3-2 in the Final in Prague. It was Czech Republic’s 4th title in 5 years. The nation sits in 2nd place on the list for most Fed Cup titles behind USA (17).

• 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.

• Karolina Pliskova has won 7 of her 8 Fed Cup rubbers. She has a 5-1 win-loss record in singles, with her only defeat coming against Maria Sharapova in the 2015 Final, and a 2-0 win-loss record in doubles.

• Barbora Strycova has played just one Fed Cup singles rubber for her country since 2011 – falling to Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 61 64 in the 2014 World Group first round. She has not won a singles rubber for Czech Republic since 2007, when Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova retired while trailing 61 2-1 in World Group II. Strycova has a 6-5 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles and a 15-8 total win-loss record.

• Denisa Allertova is looking to continue a perfect start to her Fed Cup career. She has a 1-0 win-loss record in the competition, having won the doubles rubber with Lucie Hradecka against Canada in the 2015 World Group first round. This is her 3rd nomination for the Czech team.

• If Czech Republic wins this weekend, it will play away to France or Netherlands in November’s Final.

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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FRANCE v NETHERLANDS Arena Loire, Trelaze, France (clay – indoors)

Head-to-head: France leads 5-1

France is bidding to record its 4th straight victory against Netherlands, having not lost to the Dutch since 1973 That year, Netherlands recorded its only win against France on clay in Bad Homburg, West Germany.

This is the first meeting between the 2 nations since France beat Netherlands 4-1 to win its 2nd Fed Cup title on carpet in ’s-Hertogenbosch in 1997.

FRANCE v NETHERLANDS

5 Current FC Nations Ranking 6 Champion 1997, 2003 Best Result Runners-up 1968, 1997 1963 First Year Played 1963 54 Years Played (inc 2016) 53 144 Ties Played 175 88-56 Ties Win-Loss 107-68 1 Comebacks from 0-2 down 0

• FRANCE is bidding to reach the Fed Cup Final for the first time since 2005. That year it fell to Russia in the Final for the 2nd year running, losing 3-2 at Roland Garros.

• France defeated Italy 4-1 in the World Group first round to progress to the World Group semifinals for the 2nd straight year – but only the 2nd time since 2007.

• Last year France recorded the 7th 0-2 comeback in World Group history in the first round to defeat Italy 3-2 in Genoa, before falling to Czech Republic 3-1 in the semifinals in Ostrava.

• France has won five of its last 6 Fed Cup ties. Its defeat to Czech Republic in last year’s semifinals is France’s only loss in the competition since it fell to Germany 3-1 in World Group II in 2013.

• 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 Nathalie Tauziat defeated Naoko Sawamatsu 75 46 1715.

• 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.

• is undefeated in doubles rubbers for France with a 7-0 win-loss record. She has a 9-3 total win-loss record for France since making her debut in 2012.

• has also never lost a doubles rubber for her nation with a 3-0 win-loss record. She has an 8-3 win-loss record overall in Fed Cup.

• France is currently ranked No. 5 on the Fed Cup Nations Ranking – its joint-highest position since 2008. It held the No. 1 ranking between November 2003 and July 2005.

• If France wins this weekend, it will either host Czech Republic or travel to Switzerland in November’s Final.

• NETHERLANDS is through to the World Group semifinals for the first time since 1997.

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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• Netherlands progressed to the semifinals after defeating Russia 3-1 in Moscow. It was Netherlands’ first victory over Russia and saw Richel Hogenkamp win the longest match in Fed Cup history in the 2nd rubber when she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 76(4) 57 108 in exactly 4 hours.

• Netherlands is bidding to extend its 8-tie Fed Cup winning streak, having climbed from Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2014 into the World Group this year. The Dutch team has not lost a tie since losing to Hungary 2-0 in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Eilat in February 2013.

• Netherlands is competing in the World Group for the first time since 1998. Last year Netherlands defeated Slovakia 4-1 in the World Group II first round in Apeldoorn and Australia 4-1 in the World Group play-offs in ’s-Hertogenbosch to end a 17-year absence from the top tier of the competition.

• Netherlands is a 2-time runner-up in Fed Cup. It reached the Final in 1968 (l. Australia) and fell to this weekend’s opponent in the 1997 Final in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

• Netherlands is ranked No. 6 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).

• Kiki Bertens has a 13-1 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers, with her only defeat coming against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in Netherlands’ 4-1 victory over Slovakia in World Group II in 2015. She has a 19-2 total win-loss record for Netherlands – her only other defeat came in doubles alongside Bibiane Weijers against /Heather Watson in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Eilat in 2012.

• Richel Hogenkamp has a 7-2 win-loss record in Fed Cup singles rubbers and an 8-2 win-loss record in doubles rubbers. Overall, Hogenkamp has compiled a 15-4 win-loss record for her country since making her debut in 2010.

• If Netherlands wins this weekend it will either host Czech Republic or travel to Switzerland in November’s Final.

2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group & World Group II play-offs Match Notes

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