Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LONDON (AP) — The U.S. will have to beat Italy in Italy for the first time in 16 years to return to the top tier of the Fed Cup.
Italy and the Americans were drawn on Tuesday in the World Group playoffs from April 18-19.
In other pairings, the Netherlands will host Australia, Poland will play at home against Switzerland, and Canada will welcome Romania.
Led by Serena and Venus Williams, the U.S. beat Argentina 4-1 in Buenos Aires last weekend to advance to the playoff round.
Italy, meanwhile, squandered a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 to France in Genoa in the first round of the World Group.
Italy has dominated recent ties with the U.S., winning the 2009 and 2010 finals, and first-round ties in 2013 and last year.
The Americans' record 17th and last Fed Cup title was in 2000.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
