US-Russia face off in Fed Cup semis

Birmingham, Alabama: Melanie Oudin will lead off for the US in its Fed Cup semifinal against Russia.

The Americans' No. 1 player faces Russia's No. 2 Alla Kudryavtseva, in the first match of the best-of-five tie on Saturday. Bethanie Mattek-Sands will play doubles and singles and opens against Elena Dementieva, ranked No 6 in the world.

Mattek-Sands also is slated to team with Liezel Huber, the world's No. 1 doubles player, on Sunday. Dementieva doesn't normally play doubles but was inserted into the lineup in a move Huber suggested might be a fakeout.

Both teams are without some of their respective countries' top players. US stars Serena and Venus Williams bowed out with leg injuries.