Bethanie Mattek-Sands Joins Safarova & Dokic in Dropping out of Fed Cup

Bethanie Mattek-Sands will not be joining the American team in this weekend's Fed Cup semifinals at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on indoor clay. 

@BMATTEK tweeted out: "Im up! Unfortunately I can't make the FedCup trip as I need some treatment on a lingering hip/back issue. Im up early and headed there now. "

As the No. 1 singles player on the team, she added: "Really bummed I couldn't make it to Stuttgart with the rest of team USA!! But getting some much needed recovery time. Go USA!!"

The team is missing the USA No. 1 players, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.

As of now, the USA has World No. 81 Melanie Oudin, World No. 82 Christina McHale, World No. 99/ doubles World No. 6 Vania King (taking Mattek-Sands place) and doubles World No. 3 Liezel Huber geared up to take on Germany.

The USA leads the head-to-head series 8-4 against Germany and on clay USA leads 6-3.

Germany has higher ranked singles players on their team including  World No. 19 Andrea Petkovic, World No. 34 Julia Goerges, World No. 156 Sabine Lisicki and World No. 251 Anna-Lena Groenefeld.

More dropouts include, Lucie Safarova, who injured her hamstring, and will not join Czech Republic team, who face Belgium; Lucie Hradecka is taking Safarova's place.

Replacing Jelena Dokic, Sally Peers will make her Fed Cup debut on Australia's team against Ukraine.

Tennis Now