Vandeweghe, Stephens open play vs Belarus

MINSK, Belarus — CoCo Vandeweghe will play in the opening match of the Fed Cup final on Saturday when the United States takes on Belarus, with the Americans looking to break a 17-year championship drought.

Vandeweghe was drawn to face Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first singles match. U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens will then play Aryna Sabalenka.

Kathy Rinaldi, in her first season as the U.S. captain, is trying to become the first since Billie Jean King to lead a winning Fed Cup squad.

"We know we're going to have a very competitive weekend," Rinaldi said. "We're going to have each other's backs and compete as a really tight-knit team."

Stephens retired from a match with a knee injury in China last week. She says she's ready to play on the indoor hard court.

"Really looking forward to getting back on the court," the 13thranked Stephens said. "I'm excited to be here for a final. Just hoping to have a great weekend."

The Americans won a record 17th Fed Cup title in 2000, with King as captain. Since then, they have played and lost in three finals — 2003, 2009 and 2010. Belarus is playing in the Fed Cup final for the first time. AP

(AP PHOTO/SAKCHAI LALIT) MALAYSIA'S Francisco Insa Bohigues, left, and North Korea's Jang Kuk Chol jump for the ball during their Asian Cup qualifiers soccer match at Thunder Castle stadium in Buriram province, Thailand, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. North Korea beat Malaysia 4-1.