The biggest prize in international team tennis for women is reaching its climax as the two most formidable teams in the competition brace for the final of the event.
The final would see the Americans take on defending champions Italy in what is expected to be a fiercely contested tournament decider.
The American captain Mary Joe Fernandez made a big call and included teenager Coco Vandeweghe for the opening singles of the match that is set to start this weekend.
The 18-year-old is set to become the second player from her country to make her first ever appearance in the mega event where she is set to take on Italian number one Francesca Schiavone in the opening match scheduled for Saturday.
Vandeweghe would be the second player since Chanda Rubin to make her debut in the final of the tournament.
Rubin did so in the 1995 final against Spain held in Valencia, there she lost her opening singles to Conchita Martinez.
However she took her revenge when she beat one of the finest ever women players to emerge from Spain Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario whom she beat in the reverse match.
The second match of the final that is being staged at the indoor hard-court surface at the San Diego Sports Arena would see American Bethanie Mattek-Sands take on Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.
Meanwhile a unique draw ceremony was held at the San Diego's popular tourist attraction SeaWorld to raise the impetus for the final.
The ceremony saw Clyde the sea lion picked out Vandeweghe tennis ball first from a glass bowl to determine the opening singles match.
Vandeweghe who has a lowly ranking of 114th in the women’s standing has a big leap to take in the final as her other team-mates are placed at a much better position.
One of them is rising-star, Melanie Oudin placed at number 67th and the other one is Mattek-Sands at 58th.
Sands in particular has an aggressive style which has helped her get the nod against European players who are much more equipped to play on clay courts rather than hard court surfaces.
For Fernandez selecting Coco is a risk that she is willing to take as she admires her skills and passion for the game.
Vandeweghe on the other hand is also excited about the opportunity and is eager to prove to the world that she has the potential of becoming a big star in the game.
Her sights are firmly on playing French Open champion Schiavone in the biggest match of her career.
After the two games on Saturday, action on Sunday would see Bethanie Mattek-Sands face Schiavone while Vandeweghe meets Flavia Pennetta.
In the doubles round Liezel Huber and Melanie Oudin play Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci for what is being billed as a titanic clash.
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