Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova will make her Fed Cup debut for Russia in their quarter-final tie against Israel on Saturday.
Sharapova will join Elena Vesnina, Anna Chakvetadze and Dinara Safina as they travel to Israel on 2-3 February.
And she insists that talk of her being disliked by her team-mates after repeatedly pulling out of Fed Cup squads is off the mark.
"The majority of us have a wonderful relationship, we do," said Sharapova.
The 20-year-old, who has lived in Florida since she was nine years old, was criticised by Chakvetadze and Svetlana Kuznetsova when she was invited to cheer the team on from the sidelines in the 2007 Fed Cup final win over Italy in Moscow.
Sharapova joined her countrywomen only as a hitting partner after a shoulder injury was deemed too serious for her to play.
But the former Wimbledon and US Open champion said: "I don't know what you saw, but we all went to team dinners. I have really good relationships.
"I couldn't play in the final but the captain asked me to come and support them, and that's the least I could do."
And Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev insisted: "There is not a single personal conflict inside the team."
Injury concerns forced Sharapova out of the ties with Belgium in 2006, the opening match of the 2007 campaign against Spain, and the July semi-final against the United States.
"I have my fingers crossed this will be the first time after a Grand Slam that I don't get sick or injured," said Sharapova.
"I'm very excited to be playing in the Fed Cup. Tennis is such an individual sport and this is a great opportunity to be part of a team.
"I'm happy I was asked to play for my country. This was one of my priorities at the beginning of the year."
The other quarter-finals see the USA, including Lindsay Davenport, host Germany, France travel to China, and Spain away in Italy.
January 31st, 2008
Posted by: Marco
Leave a comment