2015 Fed Cup: Australia’s World Group Tie With The Netherlands

Sam Stosur Fed Cup Australia vs. Germany — Australia's Samantha Stosur hits a return to Germany's Andrea Petkovic during their Fed Cup World Group tennis match in Stuttgart, April 22, 2012. REUTERS/Thomas Peter REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Australia will play against the Netherlands in this weekend’s World Group tie at the 2015 Fed Cup. The Aussies, headed by team captain Alicia Molik, will travel to the Netherlands in their bid to maintain their place in the World Group play-off next year.

Despite losing to Germany in the first round 4-1, Australia enters the match as the favourites. They lead the head-to-head record 8-1 against the Dutch, with their most recent win 3-2 during the World Group Qualifying Round in the indoor hard courts of WIN Sports Centre in Wollongong back in 2002. The only time that the Netherlands had won against the Aussies was during the first round of World Group II play-offs in 1996.

The Australian team is comprised of tennis stars ranked within the top 50 of the Women’s Tennis Assocation’s world rankings including 44^th-ranked Casey Dellacqua, 48^th-ranked Jamila Gajdosova, and 25^th-ranked Sam Stosur. Olivia Rogowska, ranked 192^nd in the world, completes the Aussies Squad.

Meanwhile, their Dutch counterpart is spearheaded by Kiki Bertens, who is currently World No. 86. Other players nominated for the Netherlands are Richel Hogenkamp (124^th), Arantxa Rus (217^th), and Michaella Krajicek (441^st). The last time that the Netherlands has reached the World Group play-off was 17 years ago in 1998.

The 2015 Fed Cup play-off ties will be live streamed on FedCup.TV from April 18 to April 19. Australia’s World Group play-off against the Netherlands at the Maasport Sports and Events ‘s-Hertogenbosch will be broadcast on Channel 7. The final play-off tie will be take place from Nov. 14 to Nov. 15.

2015 Fed Cup World Group Semifinal and Play-Off Matches

World Group Play-Offs

USA vs. Italy

Australia vs. Netherlands

Switzerland vs. Poland

Romania vs. Canada

World Group II Play-Offs

Paraguay vs. Serbia

Sweden vs. Slovakia

Belarus vs. Japan

Spain vs. Argentina

World Group Semifinals