Sabalenka feeling Fed Cup fever prior to clash with Netherlands "It gives me so much energy"

Both countries will be locked in a rematch from their 2017 semifinal clash, which saw then 18 year old Sabalenka help seal the victory for her country.

"It was my first time playing on a big stadium against big players." Sabalenka said as she strolled down memory lane.

"Before I stepped on the court, my knees were shaking - I couldn't do anything, I was so nervous. But as soon as I stepped on the court and started playing, I enjoyed it 100 percent".

She lost her first match in 3 tight sets against Kiki Bertens but returned to defeat Michaela Krajicek in straight sets, clinching the victory for Belarus.

The World No.13 will be joined by compatriots Victoria Azarenka, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Olga Govortsova and Lidziya Marozava. Furthermore, the tie will be contested away in the Netherlands on clay this year.

"I'm a bit surprised by the surface," Sabalenka said. "It's going to be better for them, but in the middle of the hard court season, that's going to be a huge challenge". Now it's fair - in Belarus we played on a hard court, now it's away we play on the clay court!"

Despite the change in surface, Sabalenka has maintained the positive energy that saw her storm to the semifinals in Adelaide a few weeks ago.

"I always play for my team. I love to play Fed Cup - it gives me so much energy, it's really cool to play - Clay court, whatever."

The winner of this encounter secures a spot in the inaugural Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Budapest. This new-format event pits the world's top nations against one another in a week-long event.

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