Stosur has only made it past the third round at one tournament this year. PHOTO: AFP
Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, was drawn Friday against Germany’s second-ranked player and world number 28 Petkovic, for the tie on the hardcourts of Pat Rafter Arena.
Casey Dellacqua, ranked 53, will play Germany’s top-ranked Angelique Kerber in Saturday’s second match, while the reverse singles will be on Sunday, followed by doubles.
Ash Barty and Dellacqua, who reached three grand slam doubles finals last year, will play in the doubles for Australia against Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
It has been 40 years since Australia last won the Fed Cup led by Evonne Goolagong, while Germany have not won the competition since 1992 when Steffi Graf and Anke Huber starred in the team which defeated Spain.
Australia have not featured in a Fed Cup final for more than two decades, but Australian captain Alicia Molik believes history will be on her team’s side.
Germany have world number seven Angelique Kerber and former top 10 player Andrea Petkovic, but Australia won their last Fed Cup meeting in Stuttgart two years ago.
Molik said Stosur would help provide a psychological edge despite the former US Open champion slipping to world number 19.
“I think we can win,” Molik told reporters.
“It will be very clear in the Germans’ minds that Sam had the edge [last time in Stuttgart].
“As an opponent it is always difficult going into a match knowing that you lost the last encounter. I am hoping they [Germany] remember those matches very clearly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.
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