Maria Sharapova says that her body feels good, but on Saturday she will not play for Russia against the Netherlands in the Fed Cup World Group tie in Moscow.
During the Australian Open, Sharapova said that she would attend the tie with the Russian team in Moscow, but she hadn’t decided whether she would play. On Friday, the former world No. 1—who pulled out of Brisbane the first week of the year due to a forearm injury—said her shoulder feels great.
But the forearm injury is still affecting her, she said, adding, “I am taking some time now and I am not playing until Indian Wells.”
Russian captain Anastasia Myskina said that Sharapova was hoping to play singles, but she isn’t ready.
Meanwhile, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka has pulled out against Canada in Quebec City. Azarenka had said that she wanted to play, and the Belarusian team expected her to come, but apparently she got sick and never showed up. Eugenie Bouchard, Canada’s top player, decided not to play the World Group II tie, leaving Canada with no players in the Top 300.
"Vika needed time off after Australia and wasn't ready to be back on the court," a representative from IMG told TENNIS.com.
Belararus does have two competitors in the top 100—Olga Govortsova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich—who will play singles. Canada is scheduled to play Francoise Abanda and Aleksandra Wozniak in singles.
Sharapova played Fed Cup twice last year, in Poland and in the Czech Republic, winning all four of her matches. But Russia fell to the Czech Republic, 3-2, in the final in Prague.
In order to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sharapova had to enter three times in the preceding four years. As long as Sharapova has been selected to the team, she will be counted and allowed to compete at the Olympics this summer. The 28-year-old is listed to play doubles on Sunday, partnering with 18-year-old Darya Kasatkina.
If it goes to the final match, Myskina will have to choose who to play, as Sharapova hasn’t played doubles in many years.
Even with Sharapova not playing, Russia will be heavily favored against the Netherlands, which doesn’t have any players in the Top 100. World No. 31 Ekaterina Makarova will face Kiki Bertens, while world No. 17 Svetlana Kuznetsova will play Richel Hogenkam
In other news, Caroline Wozniacki announced that she has been selected to carry the Denmark flag during the Rio Olympic Games. However, in order to do so, she must have one more Fed Cup appearance, as she has only played once since 2011. She will have to play in a Euro-Africa zonal group tie in Egypt in April.