Belgrade  - Serbia's women's tennis team will be a strong favourite against Spain when the two countries meet in the Fed Cup World Group play-offs this April, Serbian tennis officials said Tuesday.

The matches will be played on April 25 and 26 and the four winning nations will qualify for the 2010 World Group, while the four losers will start in World Group II in 2010.

"I think our opponent is all right... I'm happy with the draw," Serbia's Fed Cup representation selector Dejan Vranes was quoted as saying.

"Spain has a good team. But we have a chance. Each match must be played to a good level and I have every reason to believe that we will go well," he added.

Two female stars of Serbia tennis Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic delighted record crowds for a Fed Cup last weekend with 15,000 fans gathering in Belgrade to watch the matches against Japan.

Although both tennis players said they would love to play again in Belgrade, their wish wasn't granted this time, since they'll play the playoffs in Spain.

"The draw brought us Spain in both male and female competition. We are the favorites and we deserve World Group. I'm just sorry the match will not be played in Belgrade," Dusan Orlandic, director general of Serbia's Tennis council told local media.

THe Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis and its men's equivalent is the Davis Cup. Serbia's best Fed Cup performance was winning World Group II play off in 2008. dpa