France, Russia battle it out on familiar ground

Not only will the French hosts feel right at home during this weekend's Fed Cup final but also their Russian visitors will be at their ease at Roland Garros.

France's formidable singles line-up of Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce will be firm fans' favourites at the venue of the French Open, but Roland Garros is a happy hunting ground for the Russians.

Anastasia Myskina won the French Open last year, beating Elena Dementieva in the final and the pair will be back on the same centre court this weekend and are likely to face Mauresmo and Pierce in the opening singles.

"Of course playing at home is an advantage but I think it will be very tight," said France captain Georges Goven.

"We have Mauresmo and Pierce but Russia have Myskina and Dementieva, which is not bad either."

France, playing their third successive final, fell 3-2 to the same opponents in last year's final in Moscow.

But Roland Garros is a special place for Pierce, who lifted the French Open trophy there five years ago and played the final again this year.

Mauresmo does not like it so much, having often cracked under pressure and never gone beyond the quarter-finals at the French Open.

The former world number one, however, can rely on her Fed Cup experience, having won her last 15 matches in the competition.

"This is not the French Open," she said. "It's a totally different context and it will be a different atmosphere. This is a treat. We're all looking forward to it."

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev also named Dinara Safina and Vera Douchevina, keeping faith with the team that beat the United States 4-1 in the semi-finals in Moscow in July.

The weekend tie would have been even more glamorous had not world number one Maria Sharapova turned down an invitation to play for Russia this year.

Morale booster

Mauresmo and Pierce will be supported by Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin with Virginie Razzano as first replacement.

Goven said that playing in Paris and at Roland Garros for the first time in 37 years should be a great morale booster for the home team.

"The girls are very excited," he said.

"They keep talking about it. We have been told that we will probably play to a packed house. It will be a real treat for the team and a bonus for women's tennis."