Vandeweghe, Stephens to lead Fed Cup final efforts

By Cody Fitzpatrick Nov 03, 2017
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Vandeweghe, Stephens to lead Fed Cup final efforts

ByCody Fitzpatrick

Published Nov 03, 2017

Player nominations are in for next weekend's Fed Cup final between the USA and Belarus in Minsk.

Sloane Stephens and CoCo Vandeweghe will lead Team USA, while Belarus—in the absence of Victoria Azarenka, who is still embroiled in a custody battle—will rely on 19-year-old Aryna Sabalenka.

Last month, Sabalenka made her first WTA final, falling in two close sets to Maria Sharapova in Tianjin, China.

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The tie presents a major opportunity for both teams, as this is Belarus's first year in the World Group and first-ever final, and the USA hasn't won the competition since 2000.

America's complete lineup includes Vandeweghe, Stephens, Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske.

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Vandeweghe is currently in the semifinals of the WTA Elite Trophy, and has secured a year-end Top 10 spot for the first time in her career.

Stephens, the reigning US Open champion, is ranked No. 13 despite having missed most of the season with a foot injury. She is a bit of a question mark going in the tie. After losing her opening round in Zhuhai, she retired down 5-0 to Barbora Strycova with a knee injury on Friday.

Some notable absences include include Serena and Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Belarus will be represented by Sabalenka, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Vera Lapko and Lidziya Marozava.

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Marozava is fresh off a doubles title in Luxembourg.