The USTA has announced the timeline for cities to bid on hosting the 2012 Fed Cup World Group II First Round tie between the U.S. and Belarus, Feb. 4-5. The draw was held on July 17 in Japan.
The USTA will select the site with plans to announce the venue in mid-September, pending approval from the ITF. Information about the bid process and an RFP can be found at www.usta.com/fedcup beginning July 22. Parties interested in bidding to host the competition should submit a letter of intent by Aug. 19.
The match will be the first time the U.S. will meet Belarus in Fed Cup. Belarus, led by current world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, defeated Estonia 5-0 in the World Group II playoff in April. Belarus made its only appearance in the Fed Cup World Group in ‘94, its first year of Fed Cup competition.
The U.S. team, led by Captain Mary Joe Fernandez, will play in the World Group II for the first time in team history, after it lost to Germany in April to end its unprecedented 48-year run in the World Group.
