Shamil Tarpishchev Names Team for Fed Cup Final
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Sep 4, 2007 | Print |
Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev has announced the roster of Russian players scheduled to compete in the 2007 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas final.
Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anna Chakvetadze, who are both still alive in the draw at the US Open, will be competing. Nadia Petrova and Elena Vesnina have also been named to the team.
As expected, the powerful Russian contingent will be playing without the aid of current world number two Maria Sharapova. Although Sharapova continues to express her desire to play Fed Cup for her homeland, the two-time Grand Slam champion has never competed in a rubber with the squad.
“I feel it just wouldn’t be right to invite Sharapova this time,” said Tarpishchev according to Reuters.
Russia will be hosting defending champion Italy in the final which begins on September 15.
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Venusfan | Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
does that mean Sharapova wont be in the Olyimpics? since you have to play Fed Cup for at least 2 years, and there’s only 1 left til Beijing. im sure they’ll find a loop hole to let her in though…
Aaress | Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
No Venusfun, there is indeed a loophole.
Maria is eligible to compete, simply by virtue of declaring herself “eligible” to play Fed Cup for the past two seasons.
She still has to be officially named to the Russian Olympic Team, but even despite her recent fiasco over Fed Cup, there is no way that the Russian Federation would risk a firestorm over keeping her off the squad.