Prizes will be awarded in four categories and will be based on performances in the Fed Cup World Group and World Group II first round ties, as well as the three Zone Group I events at the start of February.

Swiss player Belinda Bencic has been shortlisted for the World Group/World Group II award, alongside Dutch player Richel Hogenkamp, Czech Karolina Pliskova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine and Alison van Uytvanck of Belarus are in the frame for the Europe/Africa prize, while Argentina's Nadia Podoroska and Paraguay's Montserrat Gonzalez are nominated in the Americas category.

In the Asia/Oceania section, Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Su-Wei and Thailand's Bunyawi Thamchaiwat are the two players battling out for the award.

The Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis, the equivalent of the men's Davis Cup. 

American Melanie Oudin won the first Heart Award during the 2009 Fed Cup final, with the prizes aimed at recognising players who have represented their country with distinction and showed courage and commitment on court.

Six players will be recognised in 2016.

"The Fed Cup Heart Award is a fantastic initiative that recognises outstanding contributions made by players representing their country," said ITF President David Haggerty.

"I would like to acknowledge the performances by the ten shortlisted players but I would also like to thank all of the players who make Fed Cup by BNP Paribas the success it is today.”

All of the shortlisted players were selected by a judging panel which included Haggerty, former players and members of the international media.

A public vote, which is now open here, is due to run until Friday (April 1) and will decide the winners.

They will receive a cheque to donate to their chosen charity.