NEW YORK (Reuters) - Injured Venus Williams will join her sister Serena on the Fed Cup sidelines with Vania King named to take her place on the U.S. team that will play the quarter-finals in Antwerp against Belgium.
U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez named King, Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Liezel Huber to her team Tuesday for the Feb 5-6 indoor matches at the Sports Palace.
At number 48, Mattek-Sands is the highest-ranked player on the U.S. squad.
Fifth-ranked Venus, a seven-time grand slam singles champion, was expected to be on the squad before injuring her hip last week during the Australian Open.
The Belgian team is expected to include U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, ranked third, and seven-time major winner Justine Henin (13).
(Writing by Larry Fine, Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
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