Russia wins the Fed Cup with an unexpected guest in the sidelines
By Claudia Beckford
Russia won its third Fed Cup title in four years last Sunday, September 16 at Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow, where the team had an unexpected participant. Maria Sharapova, currently with an injured shoulder and who has never played in a Fed Cup competition, was cheering up her compatriots from the sidelines. Sharapova wore the Russian’s uniform and even celebrated the victory, walking with the team around the court, holding a Russian flag.
However, her teammates and active players of the Russian team in the Cup put to question her loyalty and her reasons to be on the tournament, as the players that are not available for the Fed Cup can’t play on the Olympics. Before the final, the world’s number two, Svetlana Kuznetsova said: “I don’t know why she came. She said she wanted to help our preparation and be our practice partner but, to me, if you can’t play how then can you practice?” And after Russia’s victory when she was asked about Sharapova’s role as a supporter, replied: “Oh please, don’t ask me that question again. I had enough already.” Despite Sharapova’s absence in the court, Russia showed that they have a very strong team, leaded by Kuznetsova and world’s number five, Anna Chakvetadze, who also was very sincere about Sharapova’s presence in the tournament: “If you haven’t played in the Fed Cup all year, it wouldn’t be fair just to show up for the final”, she said. “It’s not fair to all the other girls who committed themselves to the team’s cause.” This was going to be Sharapova’s debut in the Fed Cup, but she couldn’t play due to her injury and therefore, both teammates and local media, questioned her arrival to the tournament and said that all was part of her Public Relations campaign and intention to boost her popularity in Russia.
However, team’s captain Shamil Tarpishchev said that he pays no attention to those comments and that the top players always have an ego, but what counts is what they do in the court. “I’ve always been fair to my players and I always invite the ones who are in better form at the moment,” he said. Now Sharapova’s concern is to convince her teammates that she truly desires to play for Russia. About the author:Claudia Beckford provides outstanding and current content to sports enthusiast in the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
Technorati Tags: Russia, Fed Cup, Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow, Maria Sharapova, Olympics, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze, Public Relations, Shamil Tarpishchev, court
