U.S. vs. Italy in Fed Cup final

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 07, 2009

Flavia Pennetta can settle her score with American Alexa Glatch today when Italy meets the United States in the opening match of the best-of-5 Fed Cup final.

Glatch routed Pennetta 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the French Open. That has been the only blemish on a career year for Pennetta, who won back-to-back titles in Palermo, Sicily, and Los Angeles on the way to becoming the first Italian women's player to reach the top 10 in August.

"I really didn't play well the first time and she had nothing to lose," said Pennetta, now ranked 11th. "Hopefully it will go better this time. I'm going to get together a better game plan with Corrado (Barazzutti, the Italy captain)."

Glatch said that "it's going be a lot different than last time."

Francesca Schiavone, will face Melanie Oudin, a U.S. Open quarterfinalist, in the today's second singles match. Schiavone and Oudin, 18, have met once before, with Schiavone winning 6-1, 6-1 last year in Indian Wells, Calif.

Oudin, who also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, burst into the spotlight with her U.S. Open run. She said that her last match with Schiavone felt like it took place "three years ago."

"She was very experienced, and she handled me pretty easily. But I think I've improved a lot since then," Oudin said. "She's been playing amazing as well. We've both had good years, so I think it's going to be a really good match tomorrow."

Reverse singles are set for Sunday, plus a possible decisive doubles match featuring Liezel Huber and Vania King of the United States against Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.

The combination of rankings, clay courts and experience makes Italy a clear favorite, but the hosts are under pressure playing at home.

Italy is playing its third final in four years.