{blackbabes} Venus Williams to travel with US Fed Cup team

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP)—Venus Williams plans to travel with the U.S. Fed Cup team for its World Group playoff at Germany but is not expected to play because of a hurt hip that's sidelined her since January.

The U.S. Tennis Association said Tuesday that Williams' management team said she would accompany the team. The USTA said it considers that enough to fulfill participation requirements for the 2012 Olympics, because Williams is willing to play Fed Cup and can't because of injury.

U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez's roster will include Fed Cup regulars Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Melanie Oudin and Liezel Huber. Christina McHale joins the team after recently moving into the top 100 in the WTA rankings.

The April 16-17 matches at Stuttgart, Germany, will be played on red clay.