The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced Wednesday that Canada will play Serbia in a World Group II first round tie from February 5-6, 2011. The tie will be played in Serbia. Choice of surface, venue and team nominations will be decided at a later date.

“We are excited to be part of the World Group again and we are looking forward to playing a top team like Serbia on their home court,” said Miele Canadian Fed Cup team captain Sylvain Bruneau. “We played well on the road in Paraguay last year in some very tough conditions and the girls are full of confidence after a big win against Argentina at home in April so I know we will be up to the challenge.”

Canada earned a spot in World Group II for the first time since 2007 after sweeping Argentina 5-0 in a World Group II playoff tie held this spring at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. The Canadian squad led by Bruneau was composed of Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, QC), Valérie Tétreault (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC), Sharon Fichman (Toronto, ON) and Marie-Ève Pelletier (Repentigny, QC).

Serbia lost both of their ties in World Group I play in 2010. They dropped the deciding doubles match in a 3-2 loss at home to Slovakia in a World Group playoff tie in April to find themselves in World Group II for 2011. Both Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic, respectively ranked No. 4 and No. 42 in the world, represented Serbia in Fed Cup competition in 2010.  

Canada currently ranks No. 15 on the Fed Cup world rankings, while Serbia sits at No. 11 on the ITF list.

Canada and Serbia have met once in Fed Cup with their only meeting coming in 1980. The tie was played outdoors on clay in Berlin, Germany and it was Serbia, then known as Yugoslavia, who came out on top 2-1.   

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND TIES

February 5-6, 2011

SERBIA* vs. Canada

Estonia* vs. SPAIN

Slovenia* vs. GERMANY

Sweden* vs. UKRAINE

Home nations listed first, seeded nations in capitals

* denotes choice of ground drawn by lot

The four winning nations will qualify for a World Group playoff tie in April 2011, while the four losers will try to keep their spot in World Group II for 2012 against a winning nation from the various Group I zonal competitions.