By Erik Gudris | Thursday, April 17, 2014

 

Led by Sloane Stephens, the U.S. Fed Cup team expects a stiff challenge from France this weekend in St. Louis.

Photo Credit: Corleve

The U.S. Fed Cup team knows that they are in for a tough World Group Playoffs battle against a talented French squad this weekend in St. Louis, Missouri. At stake is a return trip back into the World Group next year.

Led by U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez, the team features Madison Keys, Varvara Lepchenko, Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens.

"You're playing for your country so obviously there’s a little bit more behind it. I think being with the team and being with the girls it gives you that extra boost. I think it's a bit tough because there is a lot of pressure; you want to do well; you're representing your country," Stephens said in a press conference Wednesday when asked about the difference between playing for her country as opposed to the regular tour. "Got to just go out there and do your thing, and hopefully everything goes well."

"I would just add it's always exciting. I think Fed Cup weeks are always a lot of fun of we have good practices and hang out after," McHale said. "So it's just a really fun week. It's just exciting."

France will field a team featuring recent winners on the WTA tour.

Alize Cornet just won the Katowice event while Carolina Garcia is fresh off claiming her maiden WTA title in Bogota last week. Virginie Razzano and Claire Feuerstein round out the squad.

"Yeah, it's always good to win a tournament, for me the first one. Really it's a lot of confidence. It's always difficult to win four matches in a row and to beat good player like (Jelena) Jankovic," Garcia said about her confidence coming in this week. "I'm very confident and I know I can do it. But always difficult against good players, and American players will motivate also."

French Fed Cup captain Amelie Mauresmo feels her group is ready for anything as they enter this tie as the away team.

"I think they're ready for it regardless. But we don't really know what to expect this weekend. Don't know if the venue will be full or not or how many people are going to show up. But we have our little group of supporters also, so we will be good."

This World Group playoff will be the 13th meeting between the two nations. The U.S. has won every tie except one back in 2003.

Fernandez though will not rely on past results and expects this tie to perhaps go down to the wire.

"It's going to be a tough weekend, but I'm looking forward to it," Fernandez said. "I enjoy the challenge."