STRASBOURG, France -- Frances Kristina Mladenovic will open play against world No. 6 Karolina Pliskova in the Fed Cup final, as the hosts look to break the Czech Republics stranglehold on the event this weekend.The Czechs are bidding for a fifth title in six years on an indoor hard court at Rhenus Sport arena in Strasbourg.They won the most recent tie between them in the semifinals last year, and are the overwhelming favorites to become the first team to win three consecutive Fed Cups since Spain from 1993-95.We have a very difficult team ahead of us. Well give it a good fight, said France captain Amelie Mauresmo, who won Frances second and last title in 2003 as a player.The Czech Republic has been the dominant team of the decade, winning 15 or its past 16 ties dating to 2010. It again fields a formidable team made of three top-20 players: Pliskova, the runner-up at the U.S Open, No. 11 Petra Kvitova, and No. 20 Barbora Strycova.The hosts dont have the same pedigree: Frances best player, Caroline Garcia, was ranked 23 in the world. But Mauresmo hopes her players fighting spirit, backed by a home crowd, can spring a surprise.Im really looking forward to it, but Id rather be facing a team other than the Czechs, said Garcia, who has won two WTA titles this year, including in Strasbourg. They have so many great players, that they could even make two teams from all the players they have in the top 50.Garcia will take on Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon champion in the second singles.Sunday features the reverse singles, and finishes with doubles, when Alize Cornet and Pauline Parmentier face Czechs Strycova and Lucie Hradecka.Depending on how the tie goes, Mauresmo could send out Garcia and Mladenovic in the doubles. They won the French Open, and came from a set down to win the decisive rubber against the Netherlands in the semifinals.Mladenovic and/or Garcia have featured in every French rubber this year, but were cleared to play only in September after the French Tennis Federation lifted their ban. The pair was provisionally suspended for damaging the federations image at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where the players criticized the FTT over a clothing mix-up after their defeat in the first round of the doubles. Custom Orlando Magic Jerseys . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Custom Cleveland Cavaliers Jerseys . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. 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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals exercised club options on All-Star closer Wade Davis and shortstop Alcides Escobar on Friday, while designated hitter Kendrys Morales and starter Edinson Volquez declined their mutual options.Davis will make $10 million next season and Escobar will earn $6.5 million.The Royals also declined their mutual option on Kris Medlen after the right-hander exercised his portion of it. Medlen will join Morales and Volquez in free agency beginning Tuesday.In other procedural moves, the Royals reinstated pitchers Tim Collins and Mike Minor and third baseman Mike Moustakas from the 60-day disabled list. That leaves their 40-man roster at 39 players.The decision to retain Davis was expected despite two trips to the disabled list in July for a flexor strain in his right forearm. But the two-time All-Star was still among the most dominant closers in baseball, going 2-1 with a 1.87 ERA and 27 saves in 45 appearances.Davis will be eligible for free agency next season.Escobars option also expected, though its possible he coulld be traded away.dddddddddddd Hes a solid defensive shortstop and hit .261 with seven homers and 55 RBI, but the Royals are also keen on Raul Mondesi Jr. at the position and have several other needs with a payroll that is already close to being maxed out.Morales will leave a gaping hole in the lineup if the Royals are unable to lure him back in free agency. His average dipped to .263 in part because of a slow start last season, but he still showcased his power with 30 homers and 93 RBI while playing in expansive Kauffman Stadium.Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez were the only other Royals with at least 20 homers last season.Volquez, who helped pitch the Royals to the World Series title last season, also seemed to backtrack this season. He went 13-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 2015 but was just 10-11 with 5.37 ERA this season.Medlen was 1/3 with a 7.77 ERA in six starts, spending the bulk of the year on the disabled list. ' ' '