Tennis: Fed Cup injury blow for Russia

Russia's team leader Vera Zvonareva failed to recover from a shoulder injury.

MOSCOW:

Russia have suffered an injury blow ahead of this weekend’s Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic after team leader Vera Zvonareva failed to recover from a shoulder injury.

Team captain Shamil Tarpishchev has been forced to make a last-minute replacement of the seventh-ranked Zvonareva by including Elena Vesnina in his squad for the women’s team tennis showdown at Moscow Olympic Stadium tomorrow. “We don’t see ourselves as favourites,” said Tarpishchev, whose side are bidding for a fifth title. “Judging by the latest results I’d say the Czech team are favourites as our girls have failed to win any trophies in the recent months.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th,  2011.