THE WTA Tour’s most prestigious team event is less than a month away, and Draft Central is counting down the days until it kicks off by previewing each team individually. Starting with the lowest ranked nation through to the highest one, we take a look at each squad, their fixtures, and what they might be able to achieve at the event.

SWITZERLAND

Rank: 15th

Captain: Heinz Guenthardt

Switzerland have some rising stars on the WTA Tour, with one current Top 20 player and a future Top 20 player teaming up. Bencic is ranked 10th in the world, and leads the attack, in what is the European nation’s strongest side in quite some time. Loving representing her nation, the 24-year-old has won a Hopman Cup before and thrives in the red dress. She will need to overcome some big names in the group stage for her nation to progress, which is no doubt tough despite the strength of the team.

Bencic will face off against Top 5 talent and one of the most impressive players this year in Barbora Krejcikova who is coming off her maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Meanwhile Bencic’s other opponent will be German Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber, making it no easy games for the talent. Despite being in some of her best form to-date winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Bencic will be hoping she and Teichmann – ranked 39th in the world – can capitalise on their form. Teichmann will have a huge challenge against Marketa Vondrousova, though will be expected to beat Andrea Petkovic in the other game. Golubic (ranked 46th) is a very handy third option to have, with Voegele (120th) the backup.

Teichmann is also ranked inside the Top 100 for doubles and will likely team up with Golubic in that format given their experience, though Bencic can more than hold her own there too. If Bencic can beat Kerber, then expect them to pass the test against Germany, though the strength of the Czech Republic are tipped to be too much. A great combination of singles and doubles players among the world’s best, it would take an enormous effort to topple the fourth seeds, though anything is possible in this format.

Prediction: 2nd in Group D