Fed Cup teams announced
LONDON -- Only three women ranked in the top 10 will compete in the first round of the Fed Cup -- and they'll all be playing for Russia.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova and Anna Chakvetadze were officially chosen Wednesday to represent Russia against Spain on indoor clay in Moscow, the International Tennis Federation announced.
Maria Sharapova, Russia's highest-ranked player at No. 2, had been expected to make her Fed Cup debut on April 21-22, but she pulled out last week with right shoulder and left hamstring injuries.
Also in the first round, defending champion Italy will host China on outdoor clay in Castellaneta Marina; the United States plays visiting Belgium on outdoor hard courts in Delray Beach, Fla.; and France hosts Japan on indoor clay in Limoges.
Top-ranked Justine Henin and No. 4 Kim Clijsters both pulled out of Belgium's team in February because of busy schedules. Third-ranked Amelie Mauresmo of France is injured.
Others ranked in the top 10 include Martina Hingis of Switzerland, Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic and Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. None of those countries is in the World Group.
Serena Williams, the surprise winner of the Australian Open, was chosen to represent the United States along with sister Venus Williams, Lisa Raymond and Vania King.
Without Henin and Clijsters, Belgium will use Kirsten Flipkens, Caroline Maes, Yanina Wickmayer and Tamaryn Hendler.
Kuznetsova, the highest-ranked player in the first round at No. 5, will be joined by the seventh-ranked Petrova, the 10th-ranked Chakvetadze and Elena Vesnina. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Lourdes Dominguez-Lino, Laura Pous-Tio and Nuria Llagostera Vives will represent Spain.
France will be led by Tatiana Golovin, Severine Bremond, Natalie Dechy and Virginie Razzano against Japan's Ai Sugiyama, Akiko Morigami, Aiko Nakamura and Ayumi Morita.
Golovin, ranked 19th, won her first WTA Tour singles title Sunday at the Bausch & Lomb Championships.
Italy will have Francesca Schiavone, Tathiana Garbin, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci, while China will use Peng Shuai, Sun Tian Tian, Zhang Shuai and Sun Sheng-Nan.
In World Group II, Slovakia hosts the Czech Republic on outdoor clay, Germany takes on visiting Croatia on outdoor clay, Canada hosts Israel on indoor carpet and Australia visits Austria on indoor clay.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
