Ayu playing first singles against Groenefeld in Fed Cup tie
Ayu playing first singles against Groenefeld in Fed Cup tie
Agencies, Essen, Germany/Paris
Teenager Ayu Fani Damayanti of Indonesia will have the odds stacked against her when she takes on Germany's Anne-Lena Groenefeld in the opening match of their Fed Cup World Group II tie in Essen, Germany, on Saturday.
According to the draw made on Friday, Wynne Prakuysya will play Julia Schruff in the second match, Antara reported.
On paper, the Germans should be untroubled on the red clay at Essen. Groenefeld is ranked 47 and Schruff 104 on the WTA computer, far above Ayu's 610 and Wynne's 422.
Indonesian number one Angelique "Angie" Widjaja was ruled out of the tie due to a knee injury.
On Sunday, the reverse singles will be played, with Indonesian veteran player Romana Tedjakusuma and Wynne teaming up to play Anca Barna and Sandra Kloesel if the fifth and deciding doubles match is needed.
"Whatever happens, Ayu must play freely, as though she has nothing to lose," said Ayu's coach Deddy Prasetyo, who also coaches Angie.
"Groenefeld is a good player and Ayu must be brave enough to attack first."
Meanwhile, reigning champions Russia and the United States have rolled out their big guns for their first-round Fed Cup ties against Italy and Belgium this weekend.
With five players in the top 10, and with three current grand slam champions from whom to choose, the Russians go into this year's event knowing they have a great chance of defending the title they won against France in Moscow last year.
Elena Dementieva will lead Russia in their first-round rubber against Italy in Brindisi, while Elena Bovina and Dinara Safina, ranked 14 and 37 respectively, will also play.
The United States looked the closest thing possible to a sure thing heading into their first-round tie against Belgium in Florida.
With a line-up featuring world number one Lindsay Davenport, and two former world number ones in Serena and Venus Williams, the Americans bring vastly superior firepower to a Belgian side conspicuously lacking two former world number ones: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Belgian captain Caroline Maes has turned to an inexperienced squad which features 19-year-old Kirsten Flipkens, 34-year-old Els Callens, Leslie Butkiewicz and Evelyne Van Hyfte.
Flipkens and Callens are ranked 174th and 175th in the world, while Butkiewicz and Vanhyfte haven't cracked the top 300.