Team Germany regained the World Group status at FED Cup after beating 17-time champion United States. This relegated the latter to World Group II for the first time.
World number 19 Andrea Petkovic gave her country an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the Americans after beating Melanie Oudin in straight sets.
The remaining two matches in the best-of-five series were considered dead rubber but were still staged with Sabine Lisicki beating Christina McHale and in doubles, Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld sealed the 5-0 win by beating Vania King and Liezel Huber.
Germany is once more making its presence felt since former world number one Steffi Graf in the women’s tour via Petkovic and Goerges. Petkovic is now in the world’s top 20 while Goerges is now ranked 34th.
“I was really happy and relieved because I really feel Germany belongs in the World Group and I was so happy to be the one who made the final point,” Petkovic said.
