The 2019 Fed Cup was the 57th edition of the most important tournament between national teams in women's tennis.
In one of the biggest shocks in this year's tournament, Romania upset title holders and 11-time winners Czech Republic at Ostrava in the quarterfinals of the competition, before themselves losing to the eventual champion France in the semifinal. Czech Republic was unbeaten at home in the Fed Cup since 2009, when they had lost to the United States.[1]
The four losing teams in the World Group first round ties and four winners of the World Group II ties competed in the World Group play-offs.
At the time of the ties taking place, it was expected that the winners would secure a place in the World Group for 2020, while the losers would be relegated to World Group II, in accordance with the existing competition structure.
However, the restructuring of the Fed Cup for 2020 announced on 27 June 2019 stipulated that all eight nations which participated in the World Group play-offs would enter into the 2020 Fed Cup Qualifiers.[10] Consequently, the results of the 2019 World Group play-off ties had no bearing on promotion or relegation for the following year.
The four losing teams in the World Group II ties and four winners of the zonal Groups I competed in the World Group II play-offs.
At the time of the ties taking place, it was expected that the winners would secure a place in the World Group II for 2020, while the losers would be relegated to their respective zonal Group I, in accordance with the existing competition structure. However, the restructuring of the Fed Cup for 2020 announced on 27 June 2019 stipulated that the four winning nations will instead enter the 2020 Fed Cup Qualifiers. Of the four losing nations, the two with the highest ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking (as of 22 April 2019) will also enter the 2020 Fed Cup Qualifiers, while only the remaining two losing nations will be relegated to their respective zonal Group I.[11]
Russia, Japan, Great Britain and Slovakia entered the 2020 Fed Cup Qualifiers, having won their respective World Group II play-off ties. The fate of the four losing nations depended on their ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking as of 22 April 2019.
