[情報] Teenage Russian trio could make Fed Cup debut
Teenage Russian trio could make Fed Cup debut
Wed 31 March, 2004 19:37
By Gennady Fyodorov
MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) - Teenager Maria Sharapova could make her Fed Cup debut for Russia in the World Group first round tie next month against Australia.
Two other teenage prodigies, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina, the younger sister of former world number one Marat Safin, could also be called up for the April 24-25 tie at Moscow's Luzhniki indoor arena.
"I really hope that we could get all three, Sharapova, Kuznetsova and Safina, involved in the team against Australia," Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev, who is also the country's Davis and Fed Cup captain, told Reuters on Wednesday.
"Our plan is to have Anastasia Myskina and Yelena Dementieva, our two highest-ranked players at the moment, helped by the younger girls," Tarpishchev added.
"The key point here is that we want all three, Sharapova, Kuznetsova and Safina, to be eligible for the Athens Olympics and to do that they must play Fed Cup matches."
Sharapova, 16, has already established herself by winning two WTA titles, reaching Wimbledon's fourth round in 2003 and the third round of the Australian Open earlier this year.
She also reached the fourth round in Miami this week before bowing out to former world number one Serena Williams and could move into the top 20 for the first time next week.
Kuznetsova, 18, also has two WTA titles to her credit. She is also a fine doubles player, having won 10 doubles titles, five of them teaming up with Martina Navratilova.
She is ranked 14th in singles and is number five in doubles.
"As I said before, our girls have made big strides in recent years and we're just waiting for them to make a major breakthrough this year or next," said Tarpishchev.
Russia were favourites to land their first Fed Cup title on home soil last year but lost to eventual champions France in the semi-finals.
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