Porsche Team Germany confident going into the Fed Cup play-off against Australia

Andrea Petkovic is back. After being out of the game for three months with a stress fracture in her lower back, the German number one will celebrate her comeback for Porsche Team Germany in the Fed Cup play-off against Australia. Together with team-mates Angelique
Kerber, Julia Gorges and Anna-Lena Gronefeld, she will be looking to stay in the World Group in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena on April 21 and 22. She has also been given the all-clear to appear at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix which will begin on the same day as the Fed Cup.

“We’re delighted to have Andrea back in the fold. She’s indicated she’s one hundred per cent fit and would love to play,” said Porsche Team Germany Captain Barbara Rittner at the nomination press conference on the outskirts of Stuttgart. With Angelique Kerber and Julia Gorges in the team, she has two other Top 20 players available for the tie against the Australians who are led by the US Open winner Samantha Stosur. “Angelique has been playing really consistently recently and won her first WTA title in Paris and also reached the semifinals in Indian Wells. She was a certainty along with Julia who, after her fantastic Fed Cup performance against Petra Kvitova and her appearance in the Dubai final, is continuing her rise up the rankings.” Porsche Team Germany’s squad is completed by the doubles specialist Anna-Lena Gronefeld who will be playing in her 15th Fed Cup tie against Australia. Just how important she is for the team was underlined by Barbara Rittner, “Even though we’ve got three strong singles players, it’s quite possible the tie will be decided on the doubles in the end. It’s where Anna-Lena is enormously important with her wealth of experience. She’s always played well when it really matters.”

Porsche Team Deutschland will have to do without Sabine Lisicki in Stuttgart. Playing Serena Williams in the Charleston tournament, the world No. 13 sprained her ankle and had to retire. She will also be forced to miss the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Though not officially selected for Porsche Team Germany, Mona Barthel, who has been in impressive form recently, is standing by should she be needed. “The tie in Stuttgart is enormously important,” stressed Barbara Rittner. “We’ve got a squad capable of winning the title. To have another attempt, it’s imperative we beat Australia. The fantastic crowd in the Porsche Arena will again no doubt do all they can to support us.”

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