Reggio Calabria, Italy : - Host Italy will begin its bid Saturday for a second Fed Cup title in three years as Flavia Pennetta opens weekend play against American Alexa Glatch.

Experienced Italian campaigner Francesca Schiavone will then face Melanie Oudin, who made a breakthrough with a US Open fourth round, in the day's second singles.

Sunday's reverse singles will feature Flavia Pennetta facing Oudin and Schiavone against Glatch. Doubles - if required - will be Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci versus Liezel Huber and Vania King.

The US is without both Williams sisters, with Serena withdrawing just hours after winning the Sony Ericsson Championships last week in Doha.

While citing exhaustion as she made her excuses to captain Mary Jo Fernandez, the new number one later Tweeted that she was happily signing books at an autograph session in London a few days later.(dpa)