Top U.S. singles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands has been ruled out of this weekend’s Fed Cup Playoff tie against Germany with hip and back injuries. Vania King will replace Mattek-Sands on the team, which also includes Melanie Oudin, Christina McHale and Liezel Huber.
"It's the same back and hip injury that I have been battling since I had surgery in 2008," Mattek told Tennis.com. "I felt good up to Family Circle Cup and I just think the surface change and no down time contributed to the wear and tear on it. I have been going nonstop since Hopman Cup and it caught up. I very much wanted to be part of Fed Cup but I need to be healthy for the rest of the season and sometimes you have to be selfish in sports and make a decision that unfortunately can impact not just me, but others as well like my FedCup team members. I have been getting treatment from my therapist and trainer here am hopeful to be ready for Estoril but I don't want to rush into anything without being confident in how I am feeling."
Playing away and on indoor clay, captain Mary Joe Fernandez’s squad was already the underdog, but without Mattek-Sands, who has been a team stalwart during the past two years with the absence of the Williams sisters, the U.S. will be hard pressed to avoid slipping out of the World Group in 2012 for the first time in the history of the competition.
However, Fed Cup rookie McHale had her best career tournament last week in Charleston, reaching the quarterfinals on green clay. The 18-year-old will play singles along side Oudin, who has been in a slump this season but played very well in Fed Cup before, upsetting reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in last year's final. Currently the world’s No. 6 doubles player, King is expected to team with doubles standout Liezel Huber.
Germany features No. 19 Andrea Petkovic, No. 34 Julia Goerges and former Top 25 players Sabine Lisicki and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
"We always feel pressure in Fed Cup. When you are on a team and representing your country, it is a feeling like no other," Fernandez told USTA.com. "You feel that more is riding on your shoulders each time. I think it is the third time we are in this position to (try to) stay in the World Group and the first time that we are away (to do it), so it makes it more challenging. But we play every match and we do our best, and hopefully we can come out with three victories."—Matthew Cronin