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Fed Cup: Williams'-led USA takes on Belarus

U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez announced the squad, which also features teenager Christina McHale and doubles specialist Liezel Huber, late Tuesday. Sloane Stephens will also come to Worcester to train with the team.

"I am looking forward to having Serena and Venus on the team for the first time since I became U.S. Fed Cup captain," Fernandez said. "They bring so much to this team, not only for what they can do on court, but the influence they will have on Christina and the rest of the team."

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Current world No. 3 Victoria Azarenka, who will face defending champion Kim Clijsters in the Australian Opensemifinals, is expected to lead the Belarusian team. Azarenka could take over the world No. 1 ranking Monday depending upon the results in Melbourne.

"I'm really excited about it," Azarenka said from Australia. "It's the first time for me playing in the second World Group, and we definitely have a tough match."

Belarus is playing in the World Group for only the second time in Fed Cup history, with their previous appearance coming in 1999.

Venus Williams has not played competitive tennis since withdrawing from the U.S. Openin September and announcing she had been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and joint pain.

"I've been talking to Venus for a while now," Fernandez said. "She called me maybe a week ago and said, 'I feel so much better. I'm going to enter tournaments. I want to go. I think I'm ready.' "

The USA, which has won the Fed Cup a record 17 times, was relegated to World Group II for the first time after losing to Belgium in the 2011 World Group I first round and Germany in the World Group playoffs. Under Fernandez, the USA reached consecutive Fed Cup finals in 2009 and 2010.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/story/2012-01-24/fed-cup-usa-belarus/52782138/1