Fed Cup: Stephens has to wait – Vandeweghe opens for USA

US Open winner Sloane Stephens will remain only the spectator role at the start of the Fed Cup final between the record winners USA and host Belarus in Minsk. The 24-year-old will only play her second singles match against Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.

The opening game will be preceded by the opening match between American number one Coco Vandeweghe and Alexandra Sasnovich.

The USA is aiming for its 18th birthday on the hard court in the Tschischowska Arena. Winner of the title – the last one was 17 years ago. In their first ever final, the Belarusian women will have to give up their top player Viktoria Azarenka.

The two-time Australian Open winner can’t leave California because of a continuing custody battle over her one-year-old son Leo,”It’s heartbreaking not to be able to help my team,”said Azarenka, who broke up with her child’s father in the summer.

Belarus is the first-round opponent and host of the German team in February 2018. The DTB team had lost 4-0 to the USA in Hawaii this season, but then won against the Ukraine in Stuttgart (3-2) in the World Group Relegation.