Big names prepare for the Fed Cup

Victoria Azarenka will take to the court this weekend for the first time since she clinched the Australian Open title and rose to the top of the world rankings. Azarenka will be part of the Belarus squad which takes on the U.S. in the Fed Cup in California.

One of Azarenka's opponents could be seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams, who will be playing in her first competitive match since pulling out of the U.S. Open at the end of August. Williams has struggled for fitness since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

Venus' sister Serena, a 13-time grand slam winner, is also in the U.S. squad for the second-tier clash. She will be hoping for a return to form after a disappointing fourth-round exit at the recent Melbourne tournament.

Although Venus has not played competitively, she did face off against Serena in an exhibition match in the Colombian city of Medellin in November. Venus defeated her younger sister 6-4 7-6 (7-5).

Both Venus and Serena were part of the U.S. team who defeated Russia to clinch the Fed Cup in 1999. Despite their past successes, the U.S. find themselves outside of the leading World Group I for the first time in their history. They played alongside three-time grand slam winner Lindsay Davenport (left) and Monica Seles -- a winner of nine major titles.