[hellas719]

No thread this year? . I remember there is one every year, so we need one for this year

After Russia's amazing comeback against France yesterday, led by Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova, Russia will host Italy in the World Group Semifinals in April

I'm assuming Russia will play Italy in Moscow, either at the Olympic Stadium or Luzhniki. Will it be on hard or clay? Russia would have a better chance on hard, but I'm sure most top players won't play on hard so I guess they will choose clay, right?

So Russia needs their top clay courters to play. From what I heard, Zvonareva is already in. Now that Dementieva is gone, Sveta MUST play. Then it's down to Sharapova, Petrova, Safina, Pavlyuchenkova, Kleybanova, and Kirilenko. Safina is a great clay courter, but it depends on her form I guess, and it looks like she is only playing Indian Wells and Miami until then, so she needs to play EXTREMELY WELL in those two tournaments to be on the Fed Cup team, and it looks very unlikely . Sharapova also needs to play pretty well. She isn't great on clay though and probably doesn't even want to play . Petrova is great on clay, but she isn't in her best form . Pavlyuchenkova definitely deserves a spot on the team since she did so well against France. I think it's going to be Zvonareva, Kuznetsova, Petrova, and Pavlyuchenkova. Who do you guys think will play?

[hellas719]

Russia chose hard
I guess it's good because the red clay court season doesn't start until after Fed Cup, so that makes it tough for Pennetta since she's playing Marbella the week before

Zvonareva and Kuznetsova will probably be there. I don't know who else. Petrova? Maybe also Safina or one of the young girls (Pavlyuchenkova, Kleybanova, Makarova)

[Bероника]

would like to know why Petrova has been out of the team for so long.Anyone knows?

and yes,Vera and Sveta have already said they want to play

[gociku]

Maybe because Nadia has been out of form
Sveta and Bepa should be good choices. Sveta owns Pennetta and Bepa owns Franny.
I was wondering why Sharapova won't play again

[hellas719]

^Who said Masha won't play again? . I just don't think she will play on hard in between two clay events (Charleston and Stuttgart)

And Nadia is really good in doubles

But the bad part is that Flavia owns Bepa...

[goldenlox]

VladasLasitskas

Official Russian team nominations for Fed Cup vs Italy: @verazvonareva, @SvetlanaK27, @nastia_pav and Ekaterina Makarova.

[GoofyDuck]

Vera should definately be there.
Then I would say Sharapova and Pavlyuchenkova aswell.
last person doesn't matter as they don't get to play. so maybe Kuzzy can be there aswell

[goldenlox]

Both Schiavone & Pennetta are not playing, so a good chnace to get to another final.
Russia won 4 of 5 years from 2004-2008. 04, 05, 07, 08
2006 they played at Belgium against Justine & Kim.
Italy won 2006, 2009, 2010.

[hellas719]

^Russia has only 1 more title, but Russia is 10x better in my opinion even if Schiavone and Pennetta play because Russia has so many to choose from like Kuznetsova, Sharapova, Zvonareva, Petrova, Safina, Pavlyuchenkova, Kirilenko, Makarova, Kleybanova, Vesnina, Dushevina, etc. and Italy only has Schiavone, Pennetta, Errani, and Vinci at that level

[goldenlox]

Vera beat Errani 60 62. Fran & Flavia did all the work.
Now Sveta-Vinci

[goldenlox]

Sveta won 61 in the 3rd. Russia is up 2-0 needs 1 win for the final

[TheBoiledEgg]

Sveta got it done 2 good sets and a dodgy 2nd one.
still 2-0 after day 1

[Bероника]

Hope tomorrow they can make it 3-0 after third match.Maybe Tarpishev can make Nastia play tomorrow? What do you think are the chances? I like all the girls in this team so much I'm hoping all of them can get to play a match,and afterall Nastia did a great work against the French in QFs.

[goldenlox]

I read that Russia will host the final if they win this SF.
So Belgium, probably with Kim, or Czech Republic.

[hellas719]

Davai!
Why did they pick this arena? I knew it wouldn't be full and there were A LOT of empty seats on Day 1