Vinci v Panova in Fed Cup final opener

A weakened Russian team will face Italy in the final of the Fed Cup women's tennis, the highest ranked Russian being 35 places below Italy's fourth player.

Roberta Vinci will take on Alexandra Panova and Sara Errani will face 18-year-old Irina Khromacheva on the opening day of the Fed Cup tennis final between Italy and Russia.

The Russians travelled to Italy without any star players who opted instead to compete in the WTA's Tournament of Champions.

Their 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.

Flavia Pennetta and Knapp will face Kleybanova and Gasparyan in the doubles.

The best-of-five series starts on Saturday.


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Source: AAP


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