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Saturday, Feb 9, 2013 8:45 PM UTC

American Lepchenko beats Vinci to tie Fed Cup

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American Lepchenko beats Vinci to tie Fed CupUnited States' Varvara Lepchenko celebrates after defeating Italy's Roberta Vinci during a World Group first round Fed Cup tennis match at the 105 stadium in Rimini, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. Lepchenko won 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. (AP Photo/Felice Calabro')(Credit: AP)

RIMINI, Italy (AP) — American Varvara Lepchenko won in her Fed Cup singles debut to lift the United States to a 1-1 tie against Italy on Saturday.

Lepchenko rallied past Roberta Vinci 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 after Sara Errani defeated Jamie Hampton 6-2, 6-1.

Vinci struggled with a leg cramp in the final set, which had seven breaks of serve. She had treatment on her left thigh and rallied from 5-1 down in the third to tie it 5-5.

Lepchenko broke back and served out the match.

The seventh-ranked Errani needed just over an hour to win over the 64th-ranked Hampton.

Serena and Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens are injured, so Hampton and Lepchenko made their Fed Cup singles debuts. Veterans Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta, who have struggled lately, were left off Italy’s squad.

Italy beat the U.S. in back-to-back Fed Cup finals in 2009 and 2010.

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