MASPALOMAS, Spain, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Spain will have the home-court advantage when it looks to win a sixth Fed Cup title, although the matches will be played on an indoor hardcourt surface rather than the favored clay.
Spain will play Austria in the semifinals beginning on Wednesday. Slovakia meets Italy in the other semifinal. The matchups are best of five rubbers over two days, with the final to be contested on Saturday and Sunday.
Veterans Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez will represent Spain in singles matches against Patricia Wartusch and Barbara Schett, respectively, on Wednesday. The reverse singles will be played on Thursday.
Following the reverse singles, the doubles match will be the combination of Virginia Ruano Pascual-Magui Serna versus Schett and Wartusch.
Slovakia is represented by world No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova and Janette Husarova, who will also combine for the doubles match.
World No. 16 Silvia Farina Elia and Francesca Schiavone play the singles matches for Italy. Farina Elia also teams with Roberta Vinci in the doubles event.
Sanchez-Vicario is a three-time French Open champion and also claimed the U.S. Open once, but is now ranked 44th in the world.
Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion, is ranked even lower in 95th place although she defeated top-seeded Jennifer Capriati in two sets in Zurich earlier this month.
Spain won the tournament five times since 1991 and looks to make the finals for the 10th time in 14 years.
Usually the host country gets to select the playing surface, but the ITF decided on hardcourt since some players will next compete on that surface next week at the WTA Championships in Los Angeles.
The United States was eliminated from the competition at home by Austria, 3-2, in April.
