RIMINI, ITALY: USA captain Mary Joe Fernandez knows her team go into this weekend's first round tie as underdogs, but she knows upsets can happen in this competition.
Without any of their top-ranked players the Americans face an uphill task if they are to overcome one of the strongest teams in Fed Cup over the last few years.
Italy themselves are without two of their stalwarts and so Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci will be shouldering the load.
Listen to what the players have to say here.
Captain Mary Joe Fernandez (USA)
Jamie Hampton (USA) - 08/02/2013
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) - 08/02/2013
Roberta Vinci (ITA) - 08/02/2013