Stosur to play Petkovic in Fed Cup semifinal

Stosur, who has eight career titles, advanced on a walkover after top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova could not play. (Tertius Pickard/AP)

BRISBANE, Australia — Australian No.1 Sam Stosur will meet Germany’s second-ranked player Andrea Petkovic in the opening match of the Fed Cup World Group semifinal.

Friday’s draw also pitted Casey Dellacqua against Germany No. 1 Angelique Kerber in the second match Saturday on outdoor hard courts at Pat Rafter Arena.

The reverse singles will be played on Sunday, followed by doubles.

Barty and Casey Dellacqua, who reached three Grand Slam doubles finals last year, are expected to play doubles for Australia.

It is Australia’s first semifinal appearance since 1993, and the country is trying to win the Fed Cup for the first time since 1974 when Evonne Goolagong led Australia to victory.

Czech Republic and Italy are playing in the other semifinal this weekend. The winners meet Nov. 8-9 in the final.

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