Pressure on Italy in Fed Cup final

Italy's world number 11 Flavia Pennetta will open the final against Alexa Glatch following Friday's draw.

United States team captain Mary Joe Fernandez insisted the pressure was on Italy ahead of this weekend's 2009 Fed Cup final here.

With both Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, having pulled out, the underdog Americans are lining up with a teenager ranked 49 in the world and a 20-year-old who has never been in the top 100, against a team with two players in the world's top 20.

Italy's world number 11 Flavia Pennetta will open the final against Alexa Glatch following Friday's draw.

That will be followed by Italian number two and world number 16 Francesca Schiavone against 18-year-old Melanie Oudin, the top seeded American.

The pairings will then reverse for Sunday's singles matches and if a decisive fifth rubber is needed Roberta Vinci and Sara Erani will play Liezel Huber and Vania King in the doubles.

- I always think the home country feels the pressure a lot more. In a final, there's an added dimension - said Fernandez.

- I think when you play for your country, it's a different sort of tension, (a different) sort of nerves. It's hard to describe, but you definitely feel it a lot more.

- Even though we're the underdogs, we'll feel it too. There's definitely pressure on both sides.

- But from experience, when you're at home and you're the favorites, it definitely adds to it. -

Italian coach Corrado Barazzutti said his players would simply have to be more focused.

- We understand that this match is different because we are the favourites, because of this we have to play with more attention - he said.

- We must be focused on this match and play with a lot of concentration. Just focus on this match and try to play the best we possibly can, there's no other way. -

Pennetta will be looking for revenge having been thrashed by Glatch in the first round of the French Open this year, but she says that game is behind her.

- I've played her once before, it didn't go well, it could have gone better - she said.

- It was difficult but this time I will be more decisive and play with a clear idea of my gameplan.

- I'm prepared for tomorrow and the fact that I played her before doesn't enter into it. -

Schiavone also played Oudin a few years ago and won easily but neither player thinks that will have any bearing on this match.

- Last time I played Schiavone was like three years ago at Indian Wells. That means I was only 15. She was very experienced and she handled me pretty easily - said Oudin, who has had a break-out season, reaching the quarter-finals at the US Open and the last 16 at Wimbledon and beating former world number ones in both tournaments.

- But I think I've improved a lot since then. She's been playing amazing as well. We've both had good years, so I think it's gonna be a really good match tomorrow. -

Schiavone certainly isn't expecting things to be easy.

- She's improved, she's young. We're prepared, I'll try to use my experience, my conditioning and my game to come out on top. -

The two sides have plyed nine times before in the Fed Cup with the US winning every time.

The US are the most successful team in Fed Cup history, winning 17 titles and reaching 27 finals.

Italy won their only title in 2006 and reached their second final a year later, losing to Russia.

Play starts at 1100 local time on Saturday although rain is forecast which may disrupt the programme on the outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni stadium.