Archive for the 'Venus Williams' Category

It’s official–Australian Open champion Serena Williams will join her sister Venus on this year’s American Fed Cup team. The Williams sisters will play in the quarterfinals against Belgium scheduled for April.

Fed Cup Team Captain Zina Garrison announced to tennis fans today: “We are thrilled to have Serena back on the US Fed Cup team, especially after her tremendous victory at the Australian Open. The last time both Serena and Venus were on the court for a US Fed Cup team was 2003, so it will be an exciting time to see the sisters together again.”

Venus and Serena joined forces in 1999 to win the Fed Cup honors for the US; their combined Fed Cup record is an impressive 19-3. Garrison has until ten days prior to the quarterfinals to designate the two women that will complete the 2007 US Fed Cup tennis team.

The United States meets Belgium in the first round of play for the Fed Cup on April 21-22 in Florida at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. US Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison picked Venus Williams to lead the US against Belgium and hopes to persuade her sister (and Australian Open champion) Serena to join the team as well. Other possibles include Vania King, Ashley Harkleroad, and doubles expert Lisa Raymond.

The US may have an easy first round of it as neither of Belgium’s two top female players will be able to make this year’s Fed Cup. Both world number two Justine Henin and world number four Kim Clijsters have pulled out of the competition; each blames a heavy schedule for her withdrawal. Belgium’s third best player, Kirsten Flipkens, is currently ranked 104th.