U.S. may struggle in match

Germany is the opponent in this weekend's event.
ETTENHEIM, Germany (AP) -- Even with a record 17 Fed Cup titles, the United States might have a hard time advancing past Germany in the quarterfinals.
Missing the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport, American captain Zina Garrison picked Jill Craybas and three Fed Cup rookies -- Jamea Jackson, Shenay Perry and Vania King -- for the matchup starting today.
The winner will advance to the World Group semifinals against the winner of Belgium-Russia, with the loser entering a playoff to stay in the top division.
Tunnelvision
"I am focusing on the team I have, in my mind they are the top team," Garrison said Friday.
In the other quarterfinal matchups, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne lead Belgium against two-time defending champion Russia; France hosts Italy; and Spain takes on Austria. All four quarterfinals are being played on clay.
Venus and Serena Williams, and Davenport are out with injuries. So Jackson will play in the opening singles against Germany's No. 1, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, with Craybas playing Julia Schruff in the second singles today.
The reverse singles are Sunday, followed by the potentially decisive doubles.
Captains have the right to change their singles and doubles players Sunday until shortly before play. The other two German players are Martina Mueller and Jasmin Woehr.
"I am looking forward to a good fight," Garrison said. "Jill has been a great team leader and for the others, it's a good match to take something for their game in the future."
Germany's rock
German captain Barbara Rittner will be relying mostly on Groenefeld for a win. Groenefeld is the highest-ranked player on either team at No. 14.
"She's become a real leader," Rittner said. "It would be nice to be 2-0 ahead after the first day, we should be slight favorites."
The match will be played on outdoor red clay in this small town on the fringes of the Black Forest.
"It's very pretty here," Garrison said. "The stadium is very intimate and the court plays great. The hospitality is great and we are enjoying ourselves, everyone's been real nice."
The team is staying at nearby Europa Park, a somewhat kitschy theme park modeled after different European tourist attractions. The draw announcing the singles matchups was held at an Italian-themed hotel that looked like a combination of Sienna and Verona plazas, including clotheslines strung between windows with the wash drying out in the sun, and a fake Colosseum in the background.
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