New Australian Gavrilova to play vs U.S. in Fed Cup in April

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Daria Gavrilova will be allowed to play for her adopted home country when Australia hosts the United States in the Fed Cup World Group playoffs next month.

Team captain Alicia Molik said Wednesday at Pat Rafter Arena, where a red clay court is being installed for the April 16-17 playoff, that Russian-born Gavrilova will be Australia's second singles player behind Sam Stosur.

The 34th-ranked Gavrilova was granted eligibility by the International Tennis Federation last week. Despite receiving her Australian citizenship in November, she had initially been blocked due to a new ITF rule which requires players to be citizens for at least two years before representing their countries in Davis or Fed Cup tournaments.

She appealed against the ruling because she was already eligible to play for Australia when the new regulations were announced last year.