February 02, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 23, 1429

PARIS, Feb 1: Maria Sharapova will sprinkle some desperately-needed stardust on the Fed Cup World Cup this weekend as the 45-year-old tournament reels from a succession of big-name absentees.

Sharapova, fresh from her first Australian Open victory, makes her long-awaited debut for defending champions Russia against Israel in an appearance which should also guarantee her a place at the Beijing Olympics.

But the wear-and-tear of the WTA Tour, as well as Grand Slam and personal priorities, means that other ties have been stripped of their potential crowd-pullers.

The United States, the tournament’s most successful country with 17 championships but without a title since 2000, are missing Serena and Venus Williams for the home tie against Germany.

France go to China without former world number one Amelie Mauresmo, Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli as well as Tatiana Golovin.

Sharapova will be centre of attention at Ramat Hasharon as Russia begin their campaign to win a fourth Fed Cup in five years.

The 20-year-old, the world’s richest sportswoman, has been selected before only to pull out through injury, much to the irritation of her team-mates who have been vocal in their criticism of their high-profile compatriot.

But Sharapova insists there are no personal issues despite the frosty reception she received when she supported Russia in last year’s final against Italy on the Moscow sidelines.

“The majority of us have a wonderful relationship,” said the world number five. “I couldn’t play in the final but the captain asked me to come and support them, and that’s the least I could do.”

Sharapova will be joined in Israel by Anna Chakvetade, who was less than complimentary about her at the 2007 final, Elena Vesnina and Dinara Safina.

Sharapova will play the second singles on Saturday against veteran Tzipi Obziler, the world number 85 while Israel’s top player Shahar Peer tackles Safina.

Lindsay Davenport, who took time off the tour last year to have her first child, will carry American hopes against Germany at La Jolla, California.

Since her debut with the team in 1993, Davenport has a 31-2 record in Fed Cup play.

Two-time champions France will rely on Virginie Razzano, Alize Cornet and Pauline Parmentier to try and prevent China from making the semi-finals for the first time.

China, who lost 5-0 to Italy at the same stage last year on their World Group debut, are at full strength which wasn’t the case 12 months ago when they were without top player Li Na and Zheng Jie. Peng Shuai makes up the Chinese team along with Yan Zi.

Absentees are also a feature of World Group II where world number one Justine Henin skips Belgium’s trip to Ukraine while world number eight Daniela Hantuchova has limped out of Slovakia’s trip to their Czech neighbours.

Fed Cup quarter-finals (Saturday and Sunday):

World Group: Israel v Russia, USA v Germany, China v France, Italy v Spain.

World Group II: Ukraine v Belgium, Japan v Croatia, Czech Republic v Slovak Republic, Argentina v Austria.—AFP