The draw for the first round of Fed Cup 2018 is out and here it is:
World Group:
Belarus (1) v Germany in Minsk, Belarus
Belarus is the 2017 finalist, losing to the USA, and has included in its team Aliaksandra Sasnovich ranked 46 and Aryna Sabalenka ranked 63.
Germany has included amongst its ranks Tatjana Maria ranked 58 and highly rated Anna-Lena Groenefeld, ranked 21 in doubles.
Czech Republic (3) v Switzerland in Prague, Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has won the Fed Cup multiple times over the past decade (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) and has assembled another top group to contest the first round.
It includes Karolina Pliskova ranked 6, Petra Kvitova ranked 21 and fresh from her title victory in Russia, Barbora Strycova ranked 25, and Lucie Safarova, ranked 31.
Switzerland has Timea Bacsinszky and Belinda Bencic at its disposal, and their respective rankings of 42 and 73 are not truly reflective of their potential, given previous career highs in the top bracket.
Belgium v France (4) in La-Roche-sur-Yon, France
France is headed by Kiki Mladenovic, ranked 13, and Belgium’s singles hopes rest primarily with Elise Mertens, ranked 20.
Netherlands v USA (2) in Asheville, USA
The USA, defending champion, is again strong, leading with Venus Williams, ranked 8, and Coco Vandeweghe, ranked 17.
Serena Williams has also been named in the squad, although it is not known to what extent she will participate.
Singles success looks remote for the Netherlands, but the doubles combination could provide stern competition, Demi Schuurs ranked 32 and Lesley Kerkhove ranked 65 in doubles, the pair selected.
World Group Ii:
This promises to be exciting too, as the countries competing in the draw are desperate to win and grab a spot in the World Group in 2019.
Players representing their nations include:
Simona Halep, ranked 2
Ash Barty, ranked 16
Magdalena Rybarikova, ranked 18
Dasha Gavrilova, ranked 26
Carla Suarez Navarro, ranked 29
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