Playing in the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, the 26-year Andrea Petkovic old will face the former US Open winner Samantha Stosur. The second singles of the semifinal tie will be between Angelique Kerber and Casey Dellacqua. Team captain Barbara Rittner has also nominated Julia Görges and Anna-Lena Grönefeld for the doubles against Ashley Barty and Casey Dellacqua.

„I’m glad I’m first on court as I lose loads of energy cheering on the others,” said Andrea Petkovic after the draw which was made in the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on Friday. Angelique Kerber, who has won all her Fed Cup matches on hard courts to date, was also pleased with the draw: „I prefer to play the second match. Our aim is to get to the final. The title is a dream.”

Porsche Team Germany: „The Fed Cup title is a dream"

„The girls are all fit and raring to go. Our chances are now better than they have been for a long time,” said Barbara Rittner who was a member of the team when Germany last won the Fed Cup back in 1992. Australia is definitely not an easy opponent and every match will come down to who is better on the day. However she is quietly confident: „Ability wise we are certainly capable of mastering the challenge.” On Sunday, Porsche Team Germany will take the quickest possible route from Brisbane to Stuttgart where all four players are due to play in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

The second Fed Cup semifinal will see the Czech Republic take on title holders Italy in Ostrava.