Bad news for the American camp. Both Williams couldn’t be available to play Italy in the Fed Cup, but team USA was relying on the new tennis super star Sloane Stephens.
Unfortunately she had also to pull out due to a strain to her abdominal muscle.
Sloane said that she was terribly disappointed as she was eager to represent her nation. She will be replaced by world no.86 Melanie Oudin (2009 US Open quarter-finalist).
Oudin will join Varvara Lepchenko (rank no. 21) and Jamie Hampton (no.64).
Team Usa will play against Italy that will count on two very strong and solid players: Sara Errani (no.7) and Roberta Vinci (no.16). Errani and Vinci are also top ranked in the WTA doubles.
Italy seems to be the hot favorite for the tie.
