Serena and Venus Williams have committed to play for their country in the 6-7 November Fed Cup final against Italy. The sisters haven’t participated in the tournament since 2007.

The United States will host the event at the San Diego Sports Arena and other members of the team will be Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and doubles world No.1, Liezel Huber.

"I strongly believe that this team can win the Fed Cup title on our home soil,"  said US Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez.

The United States hasn’t won a Fed Cup title since 2000, and in last year’s final the US team didn’t win a single match against Italy. (photo: Emmett Anderson)

There’s always something good in something bad. Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic wasn’t able to play the Fed Cup tie against Slovakia and her replacement, 18-year-old Bojana Jovanovski, who had her first main draw appearance on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour earlier this year in Kuala Lumpur, turned out to have used the opportunity to the full to get some experience and exposure.

The world No.117 Jovanovski lost her first singles match against world No.23 Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-2, but as I have already mentioned, the match was much tougher for the Slovakian than the result suggests. On the second day of play, the Serbian rising star beat Slovakian world No.53 Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1 7-6(4), after a lot of long games and saved break points.

We had known Jovanovski has what it takes to beat Rybarikova, but the score in the first set was better than any supporter of the Serbian team could have asked for. In addition, even though inexperienced, Jovanovski won four successive games after trailing 2-0 in the second set. In the end, the winner was decided in a tiebreak and Jovanovski pulled it off despite cramps and tiredness.

The winner of the tie will be decided after the doubles match, as Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova defeated Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic in the first match on Sunday and the teams are now tied at 2-2. Whoever wins the doubles match and this Fed Cup World Group Play-offs, I am glad that Bojana Jovanovski had an opportunity and courage to give her best and gain exposure in the tennis world. (photo: Stephane Martinache)

During this weekend, Serbia and Slovakia are fighting to stay in the Fed Cup World Group, and after the first day of singles matches the countries are tied at 1-1.

World No.7 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia defeated world No.53 Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 7-6(5) 6-3. The following match featured Slovakian former world No.5 Daniela Hantuchova and Serbian rising star Bojana Jovanovski, currently ranked 117th, and favorite Hantuchova won their first encounter 6-2 6-2.

The match between Jelena Jankovic and Magdalena Rybarikova featured ups and downs of both players, but in the end the Serb won the match despite the wrist injury which has been bothering her since the preparations for the Family Circle Cup in Charleston. Jankovic has always been there for her country, and she absolutely deserves the Fed Cup Heart Award which was handed to her today, during the opening ceremony.

As Serbia’s second best-ranked player Ana Ivanovic wasn’t able to join her team this weekend, Bojana Jovanovski, the hope of Serbian tennis, took the stage against the highest-ranked Slovakian. The 18-year-old Jovanovski gave good resistance to Daniela Hantuchova, even though the 6-2 6-2 result doesn’t show it.

One more thing I should mention: the first day of matches played in Belgrade, Serbia, was very poorly attended, and it’s a pity because players gave their best to make it to the tournament and represent their countries. I have to admit, though, that even I didn’t travel to Belgrade this time, because I have one exam to prepare for my job. However, I supported the girls via TV and the matches were really enjoyable, especially the one between Jovanovski and Hantuchova, even though the one between Jankovic and Rybarikova was more thrilling. (photos: sr_cranks)

Ana Ivanovic is desperately trying to find her form and the Serbian tennis star who was always there for her Fed Cup team has decided to skip the next month’s tie against Slovakia, believing that it is the right thing to do having in mind her current bad career situation.

The Serbian Tennis Federation and the world No.58 discussed the issue and agreed that it would be best for her not to play this time.

"We all know that Ana has been through some very tough experiences lately and we support her in her efforts to do everything possible to return to the top. Ana has all the time in the world, she is only 22, and she’ll be back soon," said the President of the Federation Slobodan Zivojinovic. (source: Ana Ivanovic's official website, photo: Twenty90seven)

The first day of the Fed Cup meeting between Russia and Serbia ended with both teams winning one match. Somewhat surprisingly, especially after the talks about her injury, Jelena Jankovic upset Svetlana Kuznetsova on Day 2, which gave Serbia a 2-1 lead on home soil. Congratulations to Jankovic for winning both her singles matches!

So, Jankovic defeated Kuznetsova 6-3 4-6 6-3, but her countrywoman Ana Ivanovic couldn’t finish off the tie and lost to Alisa Kleybanova 6-2 6-3 in the following match. Ivanovic’s free fall ended a long time ago, but the sad thing is that she is still lying wounded on the ground.

With the result tied at 2-2, the decisive doubles match was played, and as Jankovic and Ivanovic are not used to playing doubles, they were knocked out by Kuznetsova and Kleybanova 6-1 6-4.

Four-time Fed Cup champions Russia thus entered the Fed Cup semifinals which will be played on 24-25 April. Their opponent will be the US, who won 4-1 in France, without the Williams sisters. (photo via Blic)