LEIPZIG: Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber will play on the opening day of Germany's Fed Cup first-round tie against Switzerland on Saturday.

One week after claiming her first Grand Slam title with an upset three-set victory over Serena Williams in Melbourne, Kerber faces the 15th-ranked Timea Bacsinszky.

Germany captain Barbara Rittner nominated Andrea Petkovic to open the tie against Swiss No. 1 Belinda Bencic, ranked 11th.

The reverse singles on Sunday are followed by the doubles rubber that should see Australian Open doubles champion Martina Hingis in action for Switzerland.

Hingis, who won in Melbourne with Sania Mirza, will line up alongside Viktorija Golubic against Annika Beck and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, unless there are any late changes.

The winner faces Romania or the Czech Republic in April's semifinals.