Oudin leads U.S. Fed Cup team

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Melanie Oudin, whose U.S. Open run last year grabbed worldwide tennis attention, will lead the U.S. team into a Fed Cup quarterfinal next week in France.

Oudin was a surprise quarterfinalist in the 2009 U.S. Open, a result that has her in the Top 50 in the WTA rankings. She was also on the Fed Cup team that played against Italy in the Fed Cup finals last year.

She will be joined by Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Shenay Perry and Liezel Huber on the U.S. side.

"After reaching the Fed Cup final in 2009, I know the team is committed to working hard again this year, starting next weekend in France," U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez said Wednesday in announcing the team.

France will counter with the team of Alize Cornet, Julie Coin, Pauline Parmentier and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro. Cornet, at No. 51, is the highest ranked woman of the group.

The United States and France will compete in a best-of-five series Feb. 6-7 on a red clay court at Lievin, France.

The winner moves to the Fed Cup semifinals in April against either Serbia or Russia.