London: A spot on the United States team for the Fed Cup semifinals against Russia next week is being held open for Serena or Venus Williams, who are being given extra time to join the squad.
Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Liezel Huber — the same team which routed France 4-1 in February — were recalled on Wednesday to play Russia from April 24-25 on indoor hard courts in Birmingham, Alabama.
US captain Mary Joe Fernandez said she was leaving the fourth spot open "in case Venus or Serena is healthy enough to compete." Neither sister has competed for the US since 2007. Serena Williams has been sidelined by a left knee injury since winning the Australian Open.
Russia, which has beaten the US three times since 2005, will be represented by Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Ekaterina Makarova and Alla Kudryavtseva. The stars of the first-round win over Serbia, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Alisa Kleybanova, withdrew from contention because of shoulder and foot injuries respectively.
In the other semifinal, defending champion Italy will use Flavia Pennetta, Francesca Schiavone, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci for the fifth successive tie.
At the Foro Italico in Rome, they will play the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova, Petra Kvitova, Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke, the same team which beat Germany in February.
In the World Group playoffs, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin reunite for Belgium for the first time since the 2006 first-round win over Russia. The pair helped Belgium win its only title in 2001, but couldn't pair up regularly after that. With US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer in tow, they should put on an exhibition at Estonia's expense in Hasselt.
Also, Ukraine hosts Australia, Germany plays France, and Serbia welcomes Slovakia.
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