Maria Sharapova will lead Team Russia against Spain in the Fed Cup tie – Tennis News
Russian tennis beauty, Maria Sharapova, has announced her commitment to be a part of Team Russia in the Fed Cup tie against Spain next season. The former world number one will be the spearhead of the Russian squad against Team Spain in the first round tie of the Fed Cup to be played in Moscow in February.
“Not sure if everyone knows, but I will be playing Fed Cup for Russia versus Spain after (theAustralian Open),” the Florida-based Russian said on her official website (www.mariasharapova.com). “So glad we get to play in Moscow! I will have four weeks in the Australian summer and then a week in the Moscow winter.”
Sharapova has just finished off a successful 2011 WTA (Women’s Tennis association) season after some remarkable performances with her racquet. The Russian begun the season as the world number 18 and ended it as the world number four in the WTA rankings. She bagged two WTA championship titles in the season but frittered away the golden opportunity to bag his fourth Grand Slam trophy. She was outplayed by the current world number two, Petra Kvitova, in straight sets in the final of Wimbledon Championships this season but still managed to surge up the women’s rankings by the year end.
Sharapova has always been the Russian trump card in the Fed Cup ties and has greatly assisted in his side’s win in the prestigious event in the past. She took part in Russia’s tie against France this year but wasn’t successful that time around. She went one-on-one against the 83rd ranked Virginie Razzano in the singles rubber but was outplayed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to hit her side with a serious blow. However, thanks to the expertise of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and former Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova that Russia managed to make a comeback in the tie and eventually won it 3-2.
Team Russia suffered a crushing 2-3 loss at the hands of the Czech squad in the final of the Fed Cup last month. The Russians certainly want a ballistic start to next season’s Fed Cup campaign and the return of in-form Sharapova will surely strengthen their squad. The former world number one must fire with all guns blazing in the tie against Spain to give her side a desirable start to the prestigious event.
The two teams will take on each other on the indoor courts of the Olympic Arena from fourth to fifth of February next year in Moscow.
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