Sharapova looks to fire Russia in chilly Moscow
Maria Sharapova will be looking to fire Russia in their Fed Cup World Group opener against Spain this weekend as she returns to freezing Moscow after her run in the sun to the Australian Open final. Russian captain Shamil Tar-pischev was spoilt for...
Maria Sharapova will be looking to fire Russia in their Fed Cup World Group opener against Spain this weekend as she returns to freezing Moscow after her run in the sun to the Australian Open final.
Russian captain Shamil Tar-pischev was spoilt for choice for the tie on the indoor hard surface of Moscow’s Olympic Stadium and has opted for world number three Sharapova for singles duty alongside 19th-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Sharapova had a good run to the final of the first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne before being thrashed in straight sets by Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus.
“I just came to Moscow from Australia and I’m still shocked by the temperature drop (from +30C to -20C). But I still have time to get accustomed to the weather conditions here,” the Florida-based player said.
Beaten 3-2 by the Czech Republic in last year’s final at the same Olympic Stadium, the Russian team will be looking for a morale-boosting opener with a team that also includes Nadia Petrova, ranked 33, and 42nd-ranked Ekaterina Makarova.
Spain legend Arantxa San-chez-Vicario takes charge for the first time as captain of the five-time winners in a team that will be without Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Champions the Czech Republic open against Germany on an indoor hard service at Stuttgart, as Belgium host Serbia on the same surface at Charleroi without Kim Clijsters, while three-time winners Italy host Ukraine on indoor clay at Biella.
The Czechs won their most recent meeting in 2010 and lead the Germans 5-1, with four of the six ties when the two nations were still West Germany and Czechoslovakia.
Serbia, meanwhile, will be without Ana Ivanovic, with Jelena Jankovic leading their bid to win their first ever World Group tie, against two-time champions Belgium.
In northern Italy, Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta lead the hosts’ bid to preserve their unbeaten record against Ukraine.
Ties this weekend:
Russia vs Spain; Belgium vs Serbia; Ukraine vs Italy; Germany vs Czech Republic.