Door open for Williams sisters to make Fed Cup return

A spot on the United States Fed Cup squad was left open for Serena or Venus Williams by captain Mary Joe Fernandez this week as she named her team for a semi-final showdown against Russia.

With world number one Serena Williams and her sister Venus battling injuries, 18-year-old Melanie Oudin will lead the Americans into the April 24-25 tie in Birmingham, Alabama.

Also named to the US squad were Bethanie Mattek-Sands and world's top ranked doubles player Liezel Huber.

"Melanie, Liezel and Bethanie are ready to represent the US again and take on a formidable Russian team for the chance to return to the Fed Cup final," Fernandez said in a statement.

"We are leaving the fourth spot open in case Venus or Serena is healthy enough to compete.

"The plan is to give them as much time as possible and we hope to make a decision early next week."

Serena, slowed by knee problems, has not been back on court since beating Justine Henin in the Australian Open final in January while Venus has not played since losing to Kim Clijsters in Miami earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the Russians will be fielding an under-strength team with world number six Elena Dementieva leading her team's charge.

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev also named world number 30 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 62nd-ranked Ekaterina Makarova and Alla Kudryavtseva (77) for the tie.

The Russians, winners of four Fed Cup titles between 2004 and 2008, have lost world number three Dinara Safina, fifth-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova (14) to various injuries this year.