Fed Cup: Australia to host U.S. on clay in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Australia will host the United States at Brisbane's Queensland Tennis Centre in next month's Fed Cup World Group playoff.

Tennis Australia said Friday that a clay court would be built on Pat Rafter Arena for the April 16-17 matches. The center, which hosts the annual Brisbane International each January, usually features a hard-court surface.

The winner of the playoff will return to the elite World Group in 2017.

In 13 previous Fed Cup meetings, the U.S. has won eight times, including the teams' most-recent encounter in 1985. The U.S. is the most successful nation in Fed Cup history with 17 title wins; Australia sits third on the all-time list with seven titles, the most recent in 1974.