Kathy Rinaldi named new U.S. Fed Cup captain, succeeding Fernandez

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) Former top-10 player Kathy Rinaldi is the U.S. Fed Cup team's new captain.

She succeeds Mary Joe Fernandez, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Thursday. Fernandez stepped down in October after eight years in the job.

Rinaldi will have extra duties, working more closely with the American players during the WTA season and the offseason. She will also work with the USTA's player development program.

Rinaldi already had been in player development for the USTA, helping U.S. women try to move into the top 100 of the rankings. She also coached the U.S. to 16-and-under Junior Fed Cup titles in 2012 and 2014.

Ranked as high as No. 7 in singles and No. 13 in doubles during her playing career in the 1980s and 1990s, Rinaldi reached the Wimbledon semifinals in singles in 1985. She also reached four Grand Slam doubles semifinals.

When she was 14 in 1981, Rinaldi became, at the time, the youngest player to win a match at Wimbledon.

Her debut as head of the U.S. Fed Cup team will come against visiting Germany in February.

Fernandez helped the United States reach two finals in the annual competition, but did not win a title. The U.S. last won the Fed Cup in 2000.