Australian Open finalist Maria Sharapova will kick off Russia's Fed Cup quarterfinal against Spain on Saturday against world No. 77 Silvia Soler-Espinosa, Friday's draw revealed.
Soler-Espinosa, the world no. 77, is a late call-up to the Spanish team in place of Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, ranked 39th. Martinez Sanchez withdrew because of a long-term leg injury, Spain captain Arantxa Sanchez Vicario told RIA Novosti.
“I wanted to play first and I’m pleased that I’m starting the match tomorrow,” Sharapova said at the draw in a shopping mall on Moscow’s Red Square.
The world No. 3, who lost last week's grand slam final in Melbourne to Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, said that she had asked compatriot Elena Vesnina for advice on how to play the lower-ranked Spaniard.
“I don’t know much about my opponent tomorrow. Elena Vesnina’s told me a little about her. But in general it’s not important who’s playing on the other side of the net. I need to focus on my game.”
The second match pits world No. 19 Svetlana Kuznetsova against Carla Suarez Navarro, the world No.55, who is now the highest-ranked member of the Spanish team following Martinez Sanchez’s withdrawal.
On Sunday, Sharapova will play Suarez Navarro before Kuznetsova takes on Soler-Espinosa. The final match will be between the Russian pair of Ekaterina Makarova and Nadia Petrova and Spain’s Arantxa Parra-Santonja and Nuria Llagostera Vives.
All matches are taking place on the hard courts of Moscow’s Olympiisky Sports Complex, which also hosts the annual Kremlin Cup tennis tournament.
Russia has a perfect record against Spain in the Fed Cup, and won the 2008 final 4-0 in Madrid against a Spanish team containing Suarez Navarro and Llagostera Vives.
