MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Tennis Federation head said Friday that number-one ranked women's tennis player Maria Sharapova of Russia is unlikely to follow in fellow countrywoman Anna Kurnikova's shoes, trading sports for advertising contracts.
"She would never do this," Shamil Tarpishchev said. "She is too focused on the result."
Tarpishchev did not give a clear answer to whether Sharapova would play for the Russian team at the next Federation Cup.
"Her coaches set up a games schedule, but she already gave me verbal consent," he said.
Tarpishchev also said Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 and 2005 Federation Cup winner, did not refuse to play for the team in the Federation Cup, after she made comments earlier this week that she planned to leave the team to make way for younger players.
