Sharapova begins Russian campaign

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Silvia Soler-Espinosa could not have wished for a harder start to her Fed Cup by BNP Paribas campaign. The world No. 77 will play her first-ever match in the competition against none other than three-time Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova, and the Spanish No. two says she’s going to be in for a tough afternoon against her Russian opponent.

“It’s going to be a very tough match as she is an excellent player and she reached the final at the Australian Open. I have a few nerves coming into the match, but I think that is good. I just want to enjoy myself and play a good game,” said the 24-year-old.

Her opponent, Maria Sharapova, comes into the tie brimming with confidence, after she managed to get to the final of the Australian Open, before losing to Viktoria Azarenka in straight sets. The Russian already has one eye on trying to qualify for her country’s Olympic team, and the 24-year-old says she’s looking forward to playing for her country again.

“The preparations are all for the days ahead and I am really looking forward to the weekend. I don’t know much about her game, but some of my teammates do, we are just going to go out there and it doesn’t matter whether they are experienced or not, we are just going to try and play our best tennis,” said Sharapova.

The Russian number one didn’t have the happiest of times the last time she played for her country in the Fed Cup. On that occasion she lost her only match of the tie against France and Sharapova is determined to put in a better performance almost a year on, saying: “this is a new year and I am looking to put what happened last year behind me.”

The second match on court sees Svetlana Kuznetsova in action against Carla Suarez Navarro. There may be 41 places separating the pair in the world rankings, but it was the Spaniard who won their last encounter in three sets two years ago. Even despite that loss, the St Petersburg native will start as the strong favourite and she’s just happy to be back home in Russia.

“It’s going to be a tough match; she’s a resourceful opponent and she plays with a lot of speed. Coming back from Australia, the most difficult thing for me is adjusting to the time zones and it’s been hard to sleep. I love being home and it’s the best feeling ever.”

Silvia Soler-Espinosa will not be the only debutante on the Spanish team. Former Fed Cup champion and six-time Grand Slam winner, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario will be captaining her country for the first time. The 40-year-old may have won almost everything there was to win on the WTA tour in a career that spanned almost two decades. However, the Barcelona native says she’s relishing the challenge of trying to help out a new generation of Spanish tennis players.

“I feel fine and we have nothing to lose as the Russians are the favourites. It’s going to be an interesting experience for me as this is the first time I have been the captain. My players are ready and they are all going to give one hundred percent and of course they have nothing to lose, so they can play their best and we will see what happens.”

It’s going to be a tough ask for Sanchez Vicario and the Spanish team to try and beat this star studded Russian line-up. However, as the Spanish captain stated on more than one occasion, her girls have nothing to lose and will be no doubt hoping for a little over confidence from their more illustrious Russian opponents as they look to cause what would be one of the biggest upsets in recent Fed Cup history.

The full draw is listed below.

Saturday
R1: Sharapova (RUS) v Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
R2: Kuznetsova (RUS) v Suarez Navarro (ESP)

Sunday
R3: Sharapova (RUS) v Suarez Navarro (ESP)
R4: Kuznetsova (RUS) v Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
R5: Makarova / Petrova (RUS) v Llagostera Vives / Parra-Santonja (ESP) 

Sharapova leads Russia against Spain in Fed Cup

http://www.chron.com/spo...n-in-Fed-Cup-2985974.php

Russia's Maria Sharapova, right, and Ekaterina Makarova smile during team's news conference in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Russia faces Spain at their World Group first round tennis match on the upcoming weekend. Photo: Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russia tennis team from left, Ekaterina Makarova, Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova and team captain Shamil Tarpischev pose after the draw ceremony ahead of a Fed Cup match between Russia and Spain in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Photo: Misha Japaridze / AP

MOSCOW (AP) — Three-time Grand Slam championMaria Sharapova will play Silvia Soler-Espinosa in the opening singles match Saturday when Russia hosts Spain in the first round of the Fed Cup.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsovawill face Carla Suarez Navarro in the second match.

"I'm satisfied with the draw," Sharapova said. "I wanted to play in the first match and I'm happy I will."

It will be Sharapova's third appearance for Russia. The Australian Open runner-up won both her singles matches against Israel in 2008 but lost in opening singles against France last year.

Russia is the clear favorite to win but Sharapova refused to underestimate the opponent.

"Last season, we were favorites against France at the same stage of the competition but fell 2-0 down after the opening singles," Sharapova said. "We were lucky to win in the end."

In Sunday's reverse singles, Sharapova will play Suarez Navarro, while Kuznetsova will take on Soler-Espinosa. In the doubles match, the Russian pair of Nadia Petrova and Ekaterina Makarova will play Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja.

The reverse singles and doubles pairings in the best-of-five series on the indoor hard court at the Olympic indoor stadium can be changed depending on the results of earlier matches.

Russia has won the Fed Cup title four times since 2004 and is 5-1 against Spain, which won the title five times between 1991 and 1998.

The winner will play Belgium or Serbia in the semifinals April 21-22.

Kuznetsova finishes off Spain in Fed Cup

Russian tennis star, Svetlana Kuznetsova (RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov)

TAGS: Sharapova, Kuznetsova, Fed Cup, Transfer

Originally Posted by: CROUCHING TIGER

http://en.ria.ru/sports/20120229/171607417.html

About a greater fight...

Great News!  Maybe Alisa will play in Moscow in April?

I doubt this will be very important to many people, but the Fed Cup Europe/Africa Group III is taking place on the 16-21 April in Cairo, Egypt. I for one will be following it as Ireland are competing. Here are the countries being represented and their team nominations. Some may be interested as Ons Jabeur (French Open Junior Singles Winner 2011) will be representing Tunisia.

TEAM NOMINATIONS

- Algeria: Assia Halo, Sarah Meghoufel, Fatima Zohra Boukezzi, Nihel Adjali, Mourad Meghari (captain)

- Armenia: Ani Amiraghyan, Nune Khachatryan, Ofelya Poghosyan, Anna Movsisyan (playing captain)

- Cyprus: Ioanna Nena Savva, Mara Argyriou, Maria Siopacha, Antria Tsangaridou, Nickolas Papadopoulos (captain)

- Egypt: Magy Aziz, Menna El Nagdy, Mai El Kamash, Sandra Samir, Nael Zaki (captain)

- Ireland: Amy Bowtell, Sinead Lohan, Jenny Claffey, Lynsey McCullough, Pat Crowe (captain)

- Kenya: Nikita Dawda, Carolene Oduor, Michelle Onyancha, Evelyn Otula

- Lithuania: Lina Stanciute, Joana Eidukonyte, Justina Mikulskyte, Akvile Parazinskaite, Edita Liachoviciute (captain)

- Malta: Roseann Dimech, Elaine Genovese, Maria Giorgia Farrugia Sacco, Helen Asciak (captain)

- Moldova: Iulia Helbet, Alina Soltanici, Melisa Martinov, Cosic Olga (playing captain)

- Morocco: Nadia Lalami, Fatima El Allami, Lina Bennani, Fatyha Berjane, Mehdi Tahiri (captain)

- Namibia: Lesedi Jacobs, Kerstin Gressman, Carita Moolman, Linique Theron, Elizma Nortje (captain)

- Tunisia: Ons Jabeur, Abbes Nour, Sonia Dagou, Chokri Dallel (captain)

More info on the Fed Cup website: http://www.fedcup.com/en.../europe-africa/2012.aspx

  April 21-22 Moscow

• Venue: Sports Palace "Megasport", Moscow, Russia


• Start times: 
  Day 1: 1500 hrs (1100 hrs GMT)
  Day 2: 1400 hrs (1000 hrs GMT)


• Surface: Clay (Red Clay), Indoor

http://www.fedcup.com/en...ils.aspx?tieId=100017592 

 TEAM NOMINATIONS - Russia

• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Maria KIRILENKO
  
  
  • Date of birth: 25 Jan 1987
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 21
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Anastasia PAVLYUCHENKOVA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 03 Jul 1991
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 22
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Svetlana KUZNETSOVA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 27 Jun 1985
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 27
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Elena VESNINA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 01 Aug 1986
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 78
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• Team captain Shamil TARPISCHEV

TEAM NOMINATIONS - Serbia

• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Ana IVANOVIC
  
  
  • Date of birth: 06 Nov 1987
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 14
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Jelena JANKOVIC
  
  
  • Date of birth: 28 Feb 1985
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 20
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Bojana JOVANOVSKI
  
  
  • Date of birth: 31 Dec 1991
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 106
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Aleksandra KRUNIC
  
  
  • Date of birth: 15 Mar 1993
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 193
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• Team captain Dejan VRANES

• Date: 09 Feb - 10 Feb 2013


• Venue: Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia


• Start times: 
  Day 1: 1500 hrs (1100 hrs GMT)
  Day 2: 1400 hrs (1000 hrs GMT) 

KIRI training in Moscow

Japan travel to Russia in the World Group first round for the first meeting between the two nations.

Russia suffered defeat in last year’s semifinal when they played Serbia in Moscow. Svetlana Kuznetsova had levelled the tie at the end of the first days play but victories for Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic to open Sunday put the tie beyond the hosts reach.

Japan won promotion back into the World Group having last been in the elite division back in 2007. Slovenia were the first victims for the Japanese before Belgium were dismissed with relative ease. Ayumi Morita extended her winning streak in the competition to 12, picking up three victories in the first tie and a further two in the latter. 

 TEAM РОССИЯ

• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Maria KIRILENKO
  
  
  • Date of birth: 25 Jan 1987
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 15
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Ekaterina MAKAROVA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 07 Jun 1988
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 20
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Anastasia PAVLYUCHENKOVA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 03 Jul 1991
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 28
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Elena VESNINA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 01 Aug 1986
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 33
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• Team captain Shamil TARPISCHEV

TEAM 日本 -- NIPPON (JAPAN)

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  • Ayumi MORITA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 11 Mar 1990
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 60
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Kimiko DATE-KRUMM
  
  
  • Date of birth: 28 Sep 1970
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 77
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Misaki DOI
  
  
  • Date of birth: 29 Apr 1991
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 83
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  • Kurumi NARA
  
  
  • Date of birth: 30 Dec 1991
  
  
  • Singles ranking: 152
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  


• Team captain Takeshi MURAKAMI

http://www.fedcup.com/en...ils.aspx?tieId=100019086