Europe and Australia will play host to 16 of the best tennis nations in the world this weekend as the 48th edition of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas kicks off.
World Group I is headlined by Italy, the defending champions, and the USA, who fell to them in last year's final. Italy, led by Top 20 stars Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone, faces Ukraine in their first round tie; the USA, led by rising star Melanie Oudin, has France in their opener.
Other ties in the top flight are Fed Cup powerhouses Russia against Serbia, which is led by former world No.1s Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic in their first World Group I appearance; and Germany versus the Czechs.
World Group II sees Spain face Australia, China face Slovakia, Poland face Belgium and Argentina face Estonia. Top 20 players in World Group II action are Agnieszka Radwanska, Samantha Stosur, Yanina Wickmayer and Zheng Jie, who just burst back into the Top 20 after her Aussie Open semifinal run.
Last year, Italy lost just one match the entire tournament to capture its second Fed Cup title, blanking France in the first round, 5-0, upsetting Russia in the semis, 4-1, and putting on another smokeshow against USA in the final, 4-0.
