The Fed Cup draw for the World Group and World Group II Play-Offs have been announced this morning with Great Britain being handed another away tie, this time against Japan.
The British team haven’t had a home tie since 1993 and that wait will continue as they have been handed another away tie in the World Group II Play-Offs. Great Britain, led by world number 11 Johanna Konta, defeated Portugal, Estonia and Hungary in Zone Group I to get to the Play-Offs in April and they have been rewarded with a trip to Japan.
Japan’s highest ranked player is world number 51 Naomi Osaka, although the 19 year old did not participate in their recent Zone Group I campaign. They also have Kurumi Nara and Nao Hibino, who will pose a decent challenge to the British time. Britain will finally hope to reach the second tier of the Fed Cup after being defeated by Romania last April.
Other ties in World Group II Play-Offs include top seeds Russia hosting a mouth-watering tie at home to Latvia. The Latvian team includes world number 6 Jelena Ostapenko and world number 15 Anastasija Sevastova. The other two matches see Spain host Paraguay while Canada will entertain Ukraine.
Belarus Face Tricky Slovakians
In the World Group Play-Offs, last year’s finalists Belarus will face a tricky Slovakian test as they look to keep their World Group status. Belarus, led by Aryna Sabalenka and Aliaksandra Sasnovich will look to hold off a Slovakian team, who has world number 18 Magdalena Rybarikova at their disposal.
Belarus are the only seeded team to be seeded as the other three seeds face tricky away ties. Switzerland, who fell to the Czech Republic at the weekend, will face Romania away who could be led by World number two Simona Halep. The third seeds, Netherlands will visit Australia, who just survived Ukraine at the weekend. Meanwhile Belgium will travel to Italy, who defeated a solid Spanish team with Deborah Chiesa providing the heroics.
Here is the full draw, ties will be played on the 21st-22nd of April:
World Group Play-Offs:
Belarus (1) (C) v Slovakia
Switzerland (2) v Romania (C)
Netherlands (3) v Australia (C)
Belgium (4) v Italy (C)
World Group II Play-Offs:
Russia (1) (C) v Latvia
Spain (2) (C) v Paraguay
Ukraine (3) v Canada (C)
Great Britain (4) v Japan (C)
