May 5, 2004
Courtesy : Tennis Australia

The Optus Australian Fed Cup Team has drawn an away Tie against Thailand in the World Group Play-offs to take place over the weekend of 10-11 July 2004.

As Australia and Thailand have not met before in Fed Cup competition, the host nation was decided by lot.

Australia is seeded in the Play-offs draw and will face a Thailand team whose top ranked players are Tamarine Tanasugarn (world No.56 in singles), Suchanan Viratprasert (193), Napaporn Tongsalee (337) and Montinee Tangphong (361).

Optus Australian Fed Cup Captain Evonne Goolagong Cawley said that after a strong performance against Russia, where Alicia Molik defeated the world No.5 Anastasia Myskina, and the pairing of Molik and Rennae Stubbs took top-ranked doubles team Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva to third set tie-break, the Australian team was looking forward to the Play-offs.

"I was very proud of the Team’s efforts in Moscow. We have our sights set firmly on playing in the World Group II in 2005. While we would never underestimate Thailand, I believe we have an excellent shot at qualifying based on our current form," she said.

Alicia Molik, Australia’s No.1 ranked female player, was also confident about the Team’s chances against Thailand.

"I think our chances of winning away are just as good as they are at home, and this time we’re definitely the stronger Team," she said. "The Tie against Russia was much closer than what the score line indicated. We have a job to do, and I’m sure we can do it."

Thailand must notify Australia of the venue eight weeks prior to the start of the Tie.

The ITF has revamped the Fed Cup competition for 2005. The current system sees one World Group of 16 teams, the same as the men’s Davis Cup. Next year, a World Group I of eight teams will be created. It comprises the winners of April’s first round ties.

World Group II will also have eight teams and be made up of the winners of July’s World Group Play-offs between the eight World Group first round losing nations and eight qualifying nations from Zonal Group I.

The eight winning nations from the Play-offs will take part in the 2005 World Group II, with the eight losing nations dropping down to Zonal Group I.

The draw for the Play-offs took place at 2pm yesterday (UK time) at the ITF’s Headquarters in England.

Australia was defeated 4-1 by women’s tennis powerhouse Russia in the first round Fed Cup Tie, played on 24-25 April.