CAGLIARI, Italy (AP) — Roberta Vinci will play Alexandra Panova and Sara Errani will face 18-year-old Irina Khromacheva on Saturday to open the Fed Cup final between Italy and Russia.
Russia is missing many of its stars, who instead will play in the Tournament of Champions. Its highest ranked player is Alisa Kleybanova, who at No. 183 is ranked 95 places below Italy’s fourth player, Karin Knapp.
Khromacheva, Panova and Margarita Gasparyan have never before played for their country.
In doubles, Flavia Pennetta and Knapp will face Kleybanova and Gasparyan.
