Cibulkova leads Slovaks against Germany in Fed Cup

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Dominika Cibulkova returns to the courts this weekend, leading Slovakia against Germany in a Fed Cup quarterfinal series.

Cibulkova last played two weeks ago in the women's singles final at the Australian Open, losing to Li Na in a tournament run that lifted Cibulkova to No. 13 in the WTA rankings. She was given the first and third singles matches for this weekend's series against Germany.

The best-of-five series will send the winner into the April 19-20 Fed Cup semifinals against either Australia or Russia. The Slovaks are looking for their second Fed Cup title, having won in 2002, while the Germans are looking for a third, with the most recent coming in 1992.

Cibulkova goes against world No. 36 Andrea Petkovic in the series opener with Daniela Hantuchova, 30th in the rankings, meeting No. 9-ranked Angelique Kerber and German No. 1 in the second match Saturday.

Cibulkova is to play Kerber in Sunday's first match, with Hantuchova penciled in against Petkovic. That could change if Slovak captain Matej Liptak decides to hold back Hantuchova for the series-ending doubles match.

As it stands now, Germans Julia Goerges and doubles specialist Anna-Lena Groenefeld are scheduled to play Hantuchova and Magdalena Rybarikova.