A prominent player from America’s past will lead its Fed Cup future.
Former world No. 7 Kathy Rinaldi has been named U.S. Fed Cup captain, the USTA announced.
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The 49-year-old Floridian succeeds Mary Joe Fernandez, who stepped down as captain in October, ending an eight-year tenure.
Rinaldi, a lead national coach in the USTA’s player development program, will debut as captain in February when the United States hosts Germany in a Fed Cup first-round tie that will be staged in Maui, Hawaii.
The United States has won a record 17 Fed Cup championships.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity, and I am incredibly excited and honored to take on the position of U.S. Fed Cup captain,” Rinaldi said in a statement to USTA.com. “I believe that my experiences as both a player and a coach have given me insight that will help me to succeed in this role and can assist in getting the U.S Fed Cup team to the next level. I look forward to working closely with the players throughout the year as we move forward in our goal of bringing the Fed Cup back to the United States.”
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