Giorgi turns down call-up to Italy's Fed Cup team

ROME (AP) Camila Giorgi has turned down a call-up to Italy's Fed Cup team for its World Group playoff against Spain, choosing to compete in qualifying for a tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, instead.

The 48th-ranked Giorgi announced last week that she was cutting off ties with the Italian Tennis Federation - apparently because the federation insisted she play Fed Cup. Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti called her up anyhow for the April 16-17 series.

Giorgi had until Monday to confirm her call-up and the federation announced on Tuesday that 72nd-ranked Karin Knapp was taking Giorgi's place on the team, which also includes Roberta Vinci, Sara Errani and Francesca Schiavone.

Giorgi is currently playing in Katowice, Poland, where she beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 6-4, 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday.