RIMINI, Italy, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Jamie Hampton and Varvara Lepchenko play their first Fed Cup matches this weekend, taking the U.S. singles spots against Italy.
With Fed Cup veterans Serena and Venus Williams -- together 22-2 in singles matches -- and with rising star Sloane Stephens not among nominated U.S. players for its first-round Fed Cup series, U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez turns to two women who have never before been in a Fed Cup competition.