Women's Tennis: The U.S.'s Fed Cup Chances Against the World

If the United States women are to remain an elite part of the 2012 Fed Cup, they'll have to prove it on the road in Germany come April.

At the official playoff draw for World Group and World Group II in London on Wednesday, the U.S. learned its fate.

There is no word if top Americans Serena or Venus Williams will take the court to help the Americans defend their spot in the World Group against the Germans, who dominated Slovenia and are led by world No. 24 Andrea Petkovic, a player rapidly gaining clout and popularity for her playing style on the court and humor off of it.

The U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium last weekend in the first round of the World Group playoffs while Germany beat Slovenia 4-1 on the road.

A second intriguing matchup pits France against Spain. The two nations have been rivals in virtually everything since Jacques Cartier discovered the St. Lawrence River about the same time Hernando De Soto was discovering the Mississippi in the 1540s.

France lost a heart-breaker to Russia last week, blowing a 2-0 lead after the first day, and now must fight to stay alive. The French have been in the World Group every single year of its competition.

Spain has won the Fed Cup five times, tied with the former Czechoslovakia for the third-most titles ever, but has lost to France three straight times. The Spanish whipped Estonia 4-1 on the road to reach this stage, getting two points from No. 28 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

The Slovak Republic will take on Serbia, which played without Jelena Jankovic or Ana Ivanovic, but still defeated Canada 3-2 on Sunday. Jankovic has said she'll be back in April to try and get her country back into the top group.

The final World Group playoff will see Ukraine travel "down under" to Australia for the second straight time. The two met last year, with Australia taking the win to reach the World Group for the first time since 2004.

The Group II playoffs will feature Belarus at home versus Estonia, Switzerland hosting Sweden, Argentina at Japan and Canada at Slovenia.

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