Australian Open 2016 winner and German Fed Cup tennis player Angelique Kerber returns a ball during the training at the Leipzig Fair in Leipzig, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. Germany faces Switzerland in the World Group first round on the upcoming weekend. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
The Associated Press
LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) - Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber will play on the opening day of Germany's Fed Cup first-round tie against Switzerland on Saturday.
One week after claiming her first Grand Slam title with an upset three-set victory over Serena Williams in Melbourne, Kerber faces the 15th-ranked Timea Bacsinszky.
Germany captain Barbara Rittner nominated Andrea Petkovic to open the tie against Swiss No. 1 Belinda Bencic, ranked 11th.
The reverse singles on Sunday are followed by the doubles rubber that should see Australian Open doubles champion Martina Hingis in action for Switzerland.
Hingis, who won in Melbourne with Sania Mirza, will line up alongside Viktorija Golubic against Annika Beck and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, unless there are any late changes.
The winner faces Romania or the Czech Republic in April's semifinals.
Australian Open 2016 winner and German Fed Cup tennis player Angelique Kerber serves a ball during the training at the Leipzig Fair in Leipzig, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. Germany faces Switzerland in the Fed Cup World Group first round on the upcoming weekend. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
The Associated Press
Switzerland's Fed Cup tennis player Martina Hingis returns a ball during a practice session in Leipzig, Germany Thursday Feb. 4, 2016. Germany will face Switzerland in a Fed Cup World Group first round tennis match on the weekend. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)
The Associated Press
Australian Open 2016 winner and German Fed Cup tennis player Angelique Kerber smiles during a media conference at the Leipzig Fair in Leipzig, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. Germany faces Switzerland in the World Group first round match on the upcoming weekend. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
The Associated Press