Russian Fed Cup Team Scrambling

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 15th October 2013

Russian Fed Cup Team Scrambling

epa03672029 Russian team members Maria Kirilenko (2nd R), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (R), Ekaterina Makarova (L), Elena Vesnina (2nd L) and team captain Shamil Tarpischev (C) celebrate their victory over the Slovakian team in the Tennis Federation Cup semi final match between Russia and Slovakia in Moscow, Russia, 21 April 2013. EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV |

Russian Fed Cup Captain Shamil Tarpischev has been at his post for eons and has had great success overall, leading his team to four titles since 2004.

But the master tactician is having a heck of time putting together his team for the Fed Cup final against Italy, November 2-3 in Sardinia, Italy. Already, top doubles player Elena Vesnina has said that she has chosen to play the Tournament of Champions-Sofia rather than the Fed Cup final. Singles player and world No. 30 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has said that she might do the same. That country’s top player, Maria Sharapova is out with shoulder injury. Another top 25 player, Ekaterina Makarova had to pull out of this week’s tournament in Moscow with a right wrist injury and is questionable for the final.

Then on Monday, No. 22 Svetlana Kuznetsova told Russia’s Sport Express that she actually turned down an invitation to play.

“I do not know [if I will change my mind],” Kuznetsova said. “But we’ll talk about it. To date, I’ve refuse. I have a very complicated relationship with the Federation Cup . For many years I played for the national team and played with all my heart , always giving of myself completely. I think that many of you have seen this. Just sometimes you get tired and want to concentrate on the personal schedule.”

Tarpischev is hoping to change the mind of a couple of those players. No. 15 Maria Kirilenko appears committed to going, and Makarova will too if she manages to recover. However, the captain might be forced to pick low ranked veterans Vera Dushevina or Olga Puchkova, maybe former top 15 Alisa Kleybanova, who is on the comeback trail from cancer, or even the inexperienced teenager Daria Gavrilova

Italy is playing at home on outdoor red clay and appears comfortable with a squad that includes Sara Errani, Flavia Pennetta, Camilla Giorgi or Flavia Pennetta, and supposedly Errani’s doubles partner, world No. 11 Roberta Vinci. However, Vinci said at the Moscow tournament on Monday that she might choose to play Sofia too. Vinci won International Series tournaments in Katowice and Palermo this year, which qualifies her for Sofia.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Alisa Kleybanova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Daria Gavrilova, Ekaterina Makarova, Elena Vesnina, Federation Cup, Maria Kirilenko, Maria Sharapova, Roberta Vinci, Shamil Tarpischev, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Tennis, Tennis News, Vera Dushevina