Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/200163
Elimination of Defending Champion in Opening Round Four defending champions have lost their opening Fed Cup tie. However, to date no defending champion has been relegated from the World Group the year after its success. Year Nation Result 1993 Germany lost to Australia 1997 USA lost to Netherlands 1999 Spain lost to Italy 2006 Russia lost to Belgium Note: Czechoslovakia, in 1976, and USA, in 2001, did not defend their titles. Elimination of Previous Year's Finalist in Opening Round 2013 marked the 11th occasion in Fed Cup history that the previous year's runner-up had lost in the opening round. Year Nation Result Year Nation Result 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 Spain Netherlands* Switzerland Russia Russia lost to Belgium lost to USA lost to Slovak Republic lost to France lost to Germany 2007 2008 2009 2011 Belgium Italy Spain USA* lost to USA lost to Spain lost to Czech Republic lost to Belgium 2013 Serbia lost to Slovak Republic 2006 France lost to Italy * subsequently relegated after losing play-off tie Elimination of Defending Champion and Previous Year's Finalist in Opening Round On three occasions, both the defending champion and the previous year's runner-up have lost their opening Fed Cup ties: Year Result 1997 Champion USA lost to Netherlands Runner-up Spain lost to Belgium 1999 Champion Spain lost to Italy Runner-up Switzerland lost to Slovak Republic 2006 Champion Russia lost to Belgium Runner-up France lost to Italy 2013 Fed Cup Final Media Guide | Nation Records, Statistics & Ranking 43