The USTA announced that the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., has been selected as the site for the 2012 World Group II Fed Cup first-round tie between the United States and Belarus, to be held February 4-5.
Thirteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams has already committed to play for the United States in 2012, as she must do so if she’s to be eligible for the Olympics, while world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka is expected to compete for Belarus. Venus Williams also must attempt to play Fed Cup next year if she's to remain Olympic eligible.
This World Group II first-rounder will mark the first-ever match up between the U.S. and Belarus in Fed Cup. The winner will advance to the World Group Playoff and play for a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title in 2013. The loser will compete in the World Group II Playoff and will either maintain its status in World Group II for the following year or be relegated to zonal competition.
This will be the first home tie for the U.S. since the 2010 Fed Cup final in San Diego, where the team lost to Italy. This will be the third Fed Cup tie played in Massachusetts and first since the U.S. defeated the Czech Republic, 5-0, in the 2003 World Group first round in Lowell, when both Serena and Venus Williams played. The WTA held an event in Worcester from 1986 to 1990.