Russia's Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev opted to rest Maria Sharapova for the second day of their Fed Cup quarterfinal against Spain on Sunday, with Nadia Petrova taking the place of the Australian Open finalist.
Russia goes into the final day 2-0 up after Australian Open finalist Sharapova thrashed world No. 77 Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 6-1 and Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-1.
Petrova, the world No. 33, plays Suarez Navarro in Sunday's opening singles, before Kuznetsova, or possibly a replacement in Ekaterina Makarova, faces Soler-Espinosa.
The final rubber will be a doubles match between Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova and Nadia Petrova and the Spanish pair of Arantxa Parra-Santonja and Nuria Llagostera Vives.
Russia has not lost a rubber against Spain in two Fed Cup ties, including the 2008 final, which Russia won 4-0 in Madrid. Kuznetsova, Makarova, Llagostera Vives and Suarez Navarro all played in that match.
