For the first time in Fed Cup history, next year's eight-team World Group will consist of all European teams, and also will be without traditional powerhouses United States and France, which both took losses in their playoffs on Sunday. Germany shutout the U.S. 5-0 in Stuttgart om indoor clay. Germany’s Andrea Petkovic clinched the tie when she defeated Melanie Oudin, 6-2, 6-3. “I tried not to think about it but it was extra weight on my shoulder,” said Oudin, who also lost her opening match to Julia Georges.
In order to return to the World Group in 2013, U.S. Captain Mary Joe Fernandez’s squad must win World Group II ties in February and April. "It is tough, it is the first time the U.S. is out of the World Group, but at the same time this young team was in the Fed Cup final the past two years," Fernandez said. "It makes you appreciate that kind of success and makes you realize there is still a lot of work to be done."
Spain bested France 4-1 when Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Lourdes Dominguez Lino both won their reverse singles matches over Aravane Rezai and Pauline Parmentier.
France’s captain Nicolas Escude told Fedcup.com that he had a hard time deciding who should play between Rezai, Parmentier, Virgine Razzano (who lost her opening match) and Alize Corent, who did not play a live rubber.
"There's lot so disappointment because we are going down for the first time but all my girls did their best and the Spanish were just better,” France’s captain Nicolas Escude told Fedcup.com. “It was difficult for me to choose the four women I was going to put on team. Alize beat Kuznetsova against Russia but it was her first win for her and she didn’t win a match after. I put Pauline in because she played well this week and Alize did. Aravane had tough beginning of the year in her mind and Virginie had probems in her personal life too. It’s complicated."—Matthew Cronin