Serena Williams selected for doubles in USA's Fed Cup quarter-final
Monday 12 February 2018 11:05, UK
Serena Williams will not be playing singles on the opening day of the USA's Fed Cup quarter-final tie against the Netherlands this weekend.
The 36-year-old was named in the American team last month, along with sister Venus, and it was expected the siblings would play singles at the match in North Carolina.
However, the team announced on Friday that Saturday's opening singles would feature Venus and CoCo Vandeweghe, who will face Arantxa Rus and Richel Hogenkamp respectively.
As things stand, Serena has been named in Sunday's doubles match when she will partner Lauren Davis against Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs.
However, rules would allow her to play in Sunday's singles if US skipper Kathy Rinaldi decided to make changes.
The Americans are the defending champions, having won the trophy last autumn for the first time in 17 years.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not played competitively since last year's Australian Open, after which she announced she was pregnant, giving birth to her first child on September 1.
Williams had originally planned to return at the Australian Open in Melbourne last month, but opted to extend her absence after playing an exhibition match on December 30.
