Sharapova eyes first Fed Cup final against Czechs
PRAGUE, Nov 11, (AP): Seven years after she helped Russia win its last Fed Cup title, Maria Sharapova finally gets to play in a final this weekend.
Her rare presence in the team is a boost for Russia’s hopes of taking the cup from the defending champion Czech Republic on an indoor hard-court at Prague’s O2 Arena.
“It’s definitely a very new experience,” Sharapova said on Wednesday. “I’ve been part of the team on different occasions but never in the final.
“Having me as part of the team is really exciting, and I hope we can have a good weekend.”
All four of her previous Fed Cup ties were in the first round, and all wins.
In 2008, she missed the triumphant final in Spain because of a right shoulder injury.
In 2011, she wasn’t available for the home final loss to the Czechs because of a left ankle injury.
In 2012, Russia didn’t pick her for the semifinals loss to Serbia because she was too busy.
This year, keen to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she contributed two wins in the first-round defeat of Poland, and missed the semifinal win over Germany because of a leg injury.
Injury almost kept her out of this week’s final.
The fourth-ranked Sharapova was sidelined with a leg injury after losing in the Wimbledon semifinals. At her first tournament back, the Wuhan Open in China last month, she retired in her first match with a left wrist injury. At the WTA Finals in Singapore, she reached the semifinals.