Tennis: Russia counting on top stars in Fed Cup

Russia’s Fed Cup captain Tarpishchev says Sharapova expressed her desire to play in this season’s Fed Cup campaign.

MOSCOW: Russia’s Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday he is still hopeful that Maria Sharapova will be available for April’s Fed Cup semi-final against Slovakia.

“I need to study the playing schedules of our girls before starting to plan the line-up for the match with Slovakia,” said Tarpishchev. “Of course Sharapova would strengthen our team a great deal, but we should never forget about her personal interests. We must try to minimise any losses for those who are battling for the top places in the rankings.”

Tarpishchev added that Sharapova had expressed her desire to play for Russia in this season’s Fed Cup campaign.

“If Masha (Sharapova) has a relatively simple tournament schedule ahead without a series of top-class events in America we will call on her,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.