Spain and Czech Republic are two of the most successful nations in Fed Cup history.

SEVILLE, SPAIN
Carla Suarez Navarro and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova go head-to-head in a rain-delayed fifth career meeting as both nations looks to kick start their 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas campaigns. Suarez Navarro has won three of the four previous meetings between the two players - all of which have come on clay - and the hosts will be looking to take advantage of a depleted Czech squad. Not only are the visitors without Petra Kvitova in the squad due to an upper respiratpry infection, but they are also without the services of Lucie Safarova on day one, also because of illness. Safarova has been replaced by Klara Zakopalova in the second singles rubber against Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor. 

The Spaniard won the only previous encounter against Zakopalova 76(6) 16 63 in Tokyo last year. Spain and Czech Republic are two of the most successful nations in Fed Cup history. The Spanish have won five titles, while the Czechs have triumphed seven times (including five victories as Czechoslovakia). The Spanish team will be looking to extend the 2-1 lead they hold over the Czechs in the three previous meetings between the two nations. Czech Republic won the most recent clash at the same stage of the competition in 2009. Spain earned promotion back to the World Group in 2013 after defeating Japan in the play-offs. Czech Republic, who won the title in 2011-12, failed to complete a hat-trick of wins after losing to Italy in the semifinals in 2013.