January 27, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 17, 1429

MELBOURNE, Jan 26: Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova committed herself on Saturday to making her belated Fed Cup debut for Russia next weekend.

The 20-year-old will spearhead the opening round of Russia’s Fed Cup defence away to Israel in the Feb 2-3 World Group tie.

Having lived in Florida since the age of seven while pursuing a tennis career, her commitment to Russia has often been questioned.

But she said it was only injuries and illness that had stopped her from playing in the teams event much earlier.

“Fingers crossed this will be the first time after a Grand Slam that I don’t get sick or injured,” she said after beating Ana Ivanovic. “I’m so excited about the opportunity (of playing in the Fed Cup).”

Sharapova denied she had a rocky relationship with other Russian women’s players, who she will join in Israel.

Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze questioned why Sharapova attended the Fed Cup final in Moscow last year when she had declared herself unavailable to play because of injury, but she denied suggestions she was unpopular with team-mates.

“The majority of us have a wonderful relationship. We do,” she stated. “I don’t know what you saw, but we all went to team dinners. Yeah, I do. I have really good relationships. “I couldn’t play (in the final) but the captain asked me to come there and support them, and that’s the least I could do.”—AFP