Glatch to play for U.S. in upcoming Fed Cup

Alexa Glatch of Newport Beach will make her Fed Cup debut for the United States in its semifinal tie against the Czech Republic in Brno from April 25, the country’s tennis assn. announced Wednesday.

With sisters Serena and Venus Williams both absent from the team, 19-year-old Glatch and 24-year-old Bethanie Mattek-Sands received their chance ahead of Jill Craybas and Julie Ditty.

Mattek-Sands is ranked 38th in the world and is the top-ranked U.S player behind the Williams sisters.

Glatch is ranked 112th but has played well recently, reaching the third round in the WTA event in Indian Wells last month.

South African-born Liezel Huber and Melanie Oudin make up the squad which will be captained by Mary Joe Fernandez.

— From staff reports