17 November 2004	Wednesday	04 Shawwal 1425

LONDON, Nov 16: French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova will spearhead Russia's bid to win the Fed Cup later this month.

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who reached the final of the WTA Tour Championships this week, again missed out on a place in the team with Vera Zvonareva and Elena Likhovtseva completing the quartet for their semi-final against Austria.

The tie takes place in Moscow together with the other semi-final in which holders France play Spain.

World number two Amelie Mauresmo heads the French team, joining Tatiana Golovin, Mary Pierce and Nathalie Dechy.

France and Russia are favourites to progress to the final which will take place at the same venue on Nov 27-28.

Meanwhile, world number two Amelie Mauresmo has pulled out of the French team for this month's Fed Cup finals in Moscow.

"It's never easy to give up a chance to play for your national team but my aim now is to win a Grand Slam event and I want to prepare myself for 2005," said Mauresmo who led France to last year's title.

Mauresmo was named on Monday by captain Guy Forget in the team for the finals which start on Nov 24.

France face Spain in the semifinals while hosts Russia play Austria. The winners play in the final.

Team nominations:

France: Amelie Mauresmo Nathalie Dechy Tatiana Golovin Mary Pierce

Spain: Anabel Medina Garrigues Maria Sanchez Lorenzo Virginia Ruano Pascual Marta Marrero

Russia: Anastasia Myskina Svetlana Kuznetsova Vera Zvonareva Elena Likhovtseva

Austria: Sybille Bammer Yvonne Meusburger Patricia Wartusch Daniela Kix.-Reuters