Serena Williams has announced she will not play for the United States in this weekend's Fed Cup semi-final against Russia as she is still recovering from a hand injury suffered at Wimbledon.

Meilen Tu, who is ranked 41st in the world, will replace the 25-year-old.

Williams suffered the injury in her loss to world number one Justine Henin in the quarter-finals at the All England Club last week. She was also plagued by a left calf injury that caused her to collapse to the court in her dramatic fourth-round win over Daniela Hantuchova.

On Tuesday, Williams pulled out of next week's Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open.

The absence of Williams is another blow to the Fed Cup encounter. Russian Maria Sharapova, who is ranked second in the world, has already withdrawn with a lingering shoulder injury.