Perth, Australia - The US team will start out on the back foot at the eight-nation Hopman Cup beginning on Saturday as Serena Williams confirmed on Wednesday she will not make opening day due to an unspecified illness.

The seventh-ranked American, whose fitness problems have been well documented over the years, told organisers that she cannot arrive in time to partner Mardy Fish in a tournament-opening tie against India at the mixed teams event.

The Florida-based former world number one is to be replaced by Meghann Shaughnessy, ranked 52nd, who will carry the load against Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in the first tie.

Few details on the nature of the Williams complaint were made available as organisers scramble with the possible loss of a drawcard and the defending Australian Open champion.

Williams has told officials she will arrive sometime over the New Year’s weekend. Shaughnessy can play as substitute until Williams may or may not step in to take her place.

The French have also made a team change, with veteran and former Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement replacing young gun Gael Monfils, down with a knee injury.

The 21-year-old could be in doubt for the first Grand Slam of the season starting January 14. He joins compatriot and Adelaide tournament absentee Richard Gasquet in pulling from an Aussie event due to knee problems.

Clement, the 2001 Australian Open finalist against Andre Agassi, played the Hopman five years ago. He will partner Tatiana Golovin at the Burswood Dome.

France is competing in the competition, which consists of men’s and women’s singles plus mixed doubles, for the 14th time without winning a trophy.

Teams: Australia (Alicia Molik, Peter Luczak), Serbia (Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic), Czech Republic (Tomas Berdych, Lucie Safarova), France (Tatiana Golovin, Arnaud Clement), India (Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna) Argentina (Gisela Dulko, Juan Chela), US (Serena Williams, substitute Meghann Shaughnessy, Mardy Fish) and Taiwan (Su-Wei Hsieh, Yen-Hsun Lu). – From DPA

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