Written by
The Sports Network
Worcester, MA (Sports Network) - A Fed Cup World Group II matchup between
the United States and Belarus will get underway Saturday with a rubber between
American teenager Christina McHale and newly-crowned world No. 1 star Victoria
Azarenka.
The best-of-five tie will be staged on an indoor hardcourt at Worcester's DCU
Center.
Azarenka-McHale will be followed by a match between former No. 1 American
great Serena Williams and Olga Govortsova on Day 1.
The 22-year-old Azarenka is fresh off her first-ever Grand Slam title, which
she attained by beating former top-ranked star Maria Sharapova in last week's
Aussie Open finale. The Belarusian slugger also ascended to No. 1 in the world
in the process.
Sunday's reverse singles in Massachusetts will pit the U.S. Open runner-up
Williams against Azarenka and the New Jersey native McHale versus Govortsova,
while the doubles currently call for an American duo of Venus Williams and
Liezel Huber to battle a Belarusian pairing of Azarenka and Govortsova on Day
2.
Venus hasn't played anywhere since pulling out in the first week of last
year's U.S. Open, as she has been slowed by Sjogren's syndrome, an incurable
autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.
The former No. 1 Serena is a 13-time Grand Slam champion, while her fellow
former top-ranked older sister boasts seven major championships.
The Americans, captained by Mary Joe Fernandez, and Belarusians are not in the
World Group this year, which means neither team can capture the Fed Cup title
in 2012. The U.S. is the all-time leader with 17 championships.
This will mark the first-ever Fed Cup meeting between the U.S. and Belarus.
The winner here will advance to the World Group playoffs and have a chance
to compete for the Fed Cup title next year.
The Sports Network