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, France (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, Moscow, RUS (clay – indoors) Spain (c) v Italy (s) Club de Tennis 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), Belgrade, 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 1 • 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 Barbara Rittner’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 2 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 3 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 Nathalie Tauziat (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/Lisa Raymond (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.