Maria Sharapova will make her second appearance in Fed Cup next year
News that Russian tennis sensation Maria Sharapova will headline her country in the Fed Cup opening round tie versus France in 2011 was confirmed by the president of the Russian Tennis Federation on Tuesday.
The 23 year old Sharapova, who made her debut on the WTA tour back in 2001, is currently ranked number eighteen in the South African Airways WTA list. She is the former top ranked player, who has so far picked up a total of twenty-two single titles, three
doubles crowns and three Grand Slam trophies on the tour.
Sharapova, lifted her first major crown at the grass court Grand Slam tournament back in 2004, followed by two more titles at the United States Open in 2006 and the Australian Open two years ago in Melbourne.
Moreover, the right hander was also a finalist at the Australian Open back in 2007. She has been ranked as high as number one in the World on four different occasions by the Women’s Tennis Association.
Sharapova started her 2010 campaign by playing at the Australian Open in Melbourne where she was upset in her opening round at the hands of Maria Kirilenko. As a result of this loss, the sizzling Russian couldn’t go beyond the opening round of a Grand Slam
tournament on the very first occasion since 2003.
The right hander, however, quickly bounced back at the Cellular South Cup where she did well to reach the final and eventually won her 21st career WTA crown and first in 2010. Her other season highlights include title battle victories in the Internationaux
de Strasbourg, the Western and Southern Financial Group Women's Open and runner up efforts in AEGON Classic and Stanford.
The former world number one made her debut in the Fed Cup back in 2008 in the quarter final tie versus Israel. Maria triumphed in both her singles rubbers versus Shahar Peer and Tzipora Obziler, assisting her country to a 4-1 win. For the final-four round,
the Florida resident was allowed to miss the tie, with Tarpishchev making an announcement that she will be a part of the team for the final.
However, the day of the final coincided with the lay-off from her injury, as a result of which the Russian did not participate.
While commenting on Sharapova’s participation in the Fed Cup next year, Shamil Tarpischev, who is also the skipper of the Fed Cup said that Maria has agreed to take part in the event on the very first occasion since making her debut appearance two years
ago.
"Sharapova has agreed to play the first round. She has fully recovered from the problems with her shoulder and again could challenge for the number one spot”, said Shamil during a news conference on Tuesday.
The former world number one Dinara Safina, two-time major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will also be playing for the tie on a hard surface at the Olympic indoor stadium during the month of February in 2011.
The professional tennis star from Russia, Vera Zvonareva, who is currently ranked number two in the South African Airways WTA list, will skip the tie due to contractual obligations to play at a WTA tour competition, however, will join the side if Russia
reached the semi-finals of the event.
"Vera will help the team no matter where we play either in Australia or at home against Austria”, added Tarpischev.
The four time Fed Cup winner Russia has triumphed in five of the eight clashes against France.
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