Chakvetadze plays down Sharapova's hopes

Anna Chakvetadze said world number two Maria Sharapova will not be chosen to represent Russia in the Fed Cup final despite making herself available to play.

Chakvetadze, speaking after booking her semi-final place at the Stanford Classic on Friday, said she expected captain Shamil Tarpischev to stick with the victorious semi-final team when Russia face holders Italy in Moscow on Sept. 15-16.

Sharapova, who has never played Fed Cup tennis for her home country, was criticised for pulling out of the semi-final against the US, which Russia won 3-2 behind Chak-vetadze, Nadia Petrova and Elena Vesnina.

Tarpischev was quoted after the victory as saying that he would name an unchanged team to face Italy, but Sharapova said that after clearing the air with the Russian captain she would be available to play.

"He never said that I was not invited to the Fed Cup final," the 20-year-old said last week.

"He repeated that I am always invited to play for Russia."

But world number seven Chakvetadze told Reuters that Tarpischev was unlikely to budge.

"The captain decides, but I think it would be weird because we played quarter-finals and semi-final with the same team," Chakvetadze said.

"I don't think that the captain will decide to take Maria.

"She's a great player, but Tarpis-chev is a diplomat... you never know how it will go."