Serena Williams’s path to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London just got a lot tougher. To become eligible to play the summer games, Williams has to be available for two Fed Cup matches in a four-year period.

She’s played one match, helping the USA defeat a Victoria Azarenka-less Belarus team earlier this month. For act two, in late April she’ll travel to the Ukraine, site of USA’s next opponent as drawn earlier today by lot in the world group playoffs.

Since this is pro tennis, rules are often suggestions especially when applied to star players like Serena. But because of her illness last year, the ITF already gave Serena one pass allowing her to play two Fed Cup ties in one year to qualify when the rule states a player must be available at least two ties in two different years.

Does Serena go? Or does she get mysteriously injured on the eve of the tie? The speculation exists because Serena has not been one to make long trips to play tennis unless it’s a Grand Slam. But this is to be at the biggest sports party of the year, one everyone wants to be at.

Serena’s elder sister and 3-time gold medalist, Venus, is already eligible for the team however her ranking (No. 137 this week) may not earn her a spot among the Top 4 American women.

Filed under: Fed Cup, Olympics
Tags: Serena Williams