Maria Sharapova

World number two Maria Sharapova was upset to have to forego her long-awaited debut in Fed Cup because of shoulder and hamstring injuries but Russia still have a strong team to face Spain in Moscow.

World number five Svetlana Kuznetsova and number nine Nadia Petrova have both had impressive seasons, with Petrova winning in Paris and Kuznetsova reaching finals at Doha and Indian Wells.

Spain, led this time by world number 29 Anabel Medina Garrigues, have a proud Fed Cup history with five titles and five second-place finishes but have not reached a final since 2002.

Russia won the trophy in 2004 and 2005 but will be keen to erase the memory of their first-round defeat by Belgium last year.

“Russia will be strong favourites but we are going there with humility and enthusiasm,” Spanish captain Miguel Margets told the Spanish Tennis Federation web site (www.rfet.es).

“Despite the late withdrawal of Maria Sharapova, Russia have got a great number of quality players and they are a top-class power in world tennis, a team to be feared, so we are going to have to fight really hard if we are going to win the tie.”

France, the only team never to have been relegated from the top tier of the world group, are without Fed Cup stalwart and world number three Amelie Mauresmo, who is recovering from appendicitis, for their date with Japan in Limoges.

World number 18 Tatiana Golovin is in fine form, however, after winning her first WTA Tour title in Amelia Island two weeks ago.

Japan, returning to the elite group for the first time since 2004, will be led by the experienced Ai Sugiyama, helped by Akiko Morigami who boasts a 16-2 win-loss record in the competition.

By Steve Virgen

Maybe the Newport Beach Breakers and staff will sing, “She’s so pretty,” when Maria Sharapova walks through the Newport Beach Country Club this summer.

Regardless if they mimic a Nike commercial or not, they’ll assuredly be smiling as Sharapova will join the Breakers for one date: July 16. That’s when the world’s No. 2-ranked player will be with the Breakers when they go up against the Kansas City Explorers, it was announced Wednesday.

Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004, played for the Breakers 2003-05.

“We are proud to welcome Maria Sharapova back with the Breakers and we are happy to provide our Southern California tennis fans with the opportunity to support one of the preeminent players in women’s tennis,” Jeff Purser, the Breakers’ executive director, said in a press release.

Sharapova, who turns 20 on April 19, highlights the list of prominent players who will be playing at the Breakers’ new tennis stadium at Newport Beach Country Club this summer. Pete Sampras, the all-time leader in men’s Grand Slam titles returns to the Breakers. On July 10, he’ll be at the NBCC, as will other World TeamTennis players including, Anna Kournikova (July 6), Venus Williams (July 22) and that guy who says, “Wow!” at the end of the Sharapova-Nike commercial: John McEnroe (July 25).

Sharapova has done plenty to make people say, “Wow!” since her breakthrough in 2004. She won the 2006 U.S. Open and has won 15 singles tiles. She became the top-ranked female in the world in 2005 and has more than $9 million in career earnings. She won five titles in 2006.

She’ll try to help the Breakers win the WTT championship, as she did in 2004. Last year, Newport Beach was the runner-up.

Recently, Sharapova lost to Serena Williams, 1-6, 1-6, in the Sony Ericsson Open. Sharapova defeated Williams to win the ‘04 Wimbledon. Sharapova was the lowest seed and second-youngest ladies Wimbledon champion in the Open Era and the third-youngest of all time.

Maria Sharapova Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.

Russian world number two Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week’s WTA event the Family Circle Cup and the forthcoming Fed Cup clash in Moscow with Spain, it was announced on March 2.

Sharapova is slated to miss between five to six weeks of action because of a repeat of a right shoulder injury and a left hamstring injury.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the court as soon as possible,” added Sharapova.

Sharapova was clearly not at her best last week when she was demolished 6-1, 6-1 by Serena Williams, who had also beaten her in the Australian Open final, in the last 16 of the Miami ATP and WTA Masters Series event.