FED CUP 2014, USA VS FRANCE

ST. LOUIS, MO, USA: 
Sloane Stephens will kick off a USA campaign to remain in the top tier of the competition when she faces Caroline Garcia in the opening rubber of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-off on Saturday. Stephens, the world No. 17, has been nominated for just a fourth tie this weekend and has made it onto the court court for just two rubbers in the competition previously as well as losing her only singles match against Sofia Arvidsson at the same stage last year. 
Garcia, meanwhile, has little experience of her own in Fed Cup action having appeared in one fewer tie and has never played a singles rubber before. She has found some form of the WTA Tour recently picking up a maiden title in Bogota last week and moving to just outside the world's Top 50. The second rubber will see Madison Keys face Alize Cornet with the American No. 2 also having lost to Camila Giorgi earlier this year on her Fed Cup debut. Her 24-year-old opponent has the greater experience having racked up 12 ties in her career and although she has won only three of 13 singles rubbers to date has seemingly turned the corner after a run of eight straight losses. 
All four players in singles action have, however, been tipped as potential stars of the future and this tie could be a glimpse into the future landscape of Fed Cup competition. The nominated doubles pairings will see Lauren Davis, a late replacement for the injured Varvara Lepchenko, and Christina McHale take on Claire Feuerstein and Virginie Razzano. 

 The full draw is listed below: 

 R1: Sloane Stephens (USA) v Caroline Garcia (FRA)
 R2: Madison Keys (USA) v Alize Cornet (FRA) 
R3: Sloane Stephens (USA) v Alize Cornet (FRA) 
R4: Madison Keys (USA) v Caroline Garcia (FRA) 
R5: Lauren Davis/Christina McHale (USA) v Claire Feuerstein/Virginie Razzano (GER)