Li Na to open China's Fed Cup challenge against France

BEIJING, Feb 1 - Chinese number one Li Na will face tournament debutant Alize Cornet in the opening singles rubber of the Fed Cup world group tie against a weakened France side in Beijing on Saturday.

France's Virginie Razzano, no stranger to tennis in the region after winning the Guangzhou International last September, will then face China's number two Peng Shuai in the second singles match.

Nathalie Dechy will partner Razzano against 2006 Wimbledon and Australia Open doubles champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie on Sunday.

Two-time Fed Cup winners France are fielding a second-string team in the absence of former world number one Amelie Mauresmo and last year's Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, who opted out of the tie.

While rating France as the "underdogs" going into the tie, team captain Georges Goven said his young team would try to exploit any pressure China might feel in front of home fans in Beijing, which will also host the Olympic Games in August.

"China, in front of their own crowd, preparing for the Olympics, have a very strong image to defend, which will maybe -- and I hope very strongly -- give them a little bit of stress. So we can take profit from that," he told reporters.