Melbourne, 27 January 2011 | Tennis Australia

Overnight Francesca Schiavone (world No.7), Flavia Pennetta (No.25), Roberta Vinci (No.37) and Sara Errani (No.42) were announced as the Italian Fed Cup team to take on Australia in Hobart.

This is the same team line-up that defeated the USA 3-1 in San Diego in the Fed Cup final last year.

The champions will meet Samantha Stosur (No.6), Jarmila Groth (No.34), Anastasia Rodionova (No.67) and Rennae Stubbs (No.9 in doubles) at the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group tie at the Domain Tennis Centre on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 February 2011.

It will be the sixth time the two countries have played in a Fed Cup tie, with Australia currently leading 5-0 in their head-to-head encounters.

Italy however has been Fed Cup champions in 2006, 2009 and 2010 and has won seven out of its last eight away ties since the last time the two nations met in the 1988 World Group second round.

The tie will also most likely see the replay of the 2010 French Open final when world No.6, Stosur, and world No.7, Schiavone, take to the court.

Australia and Italy are two of just four nations to have competed in every Fed Cup.

The tie in Hobart will be the first opportunity for Groth to represent her country in Fed Cup with Rodionova making her debut last year. Stubbs will be attending her 41st tie having represented Australia since 1992.

This is the Australian Fed Cup team