Sharapova set to play in Fed Cup

Moscow - Team captain Anastasia Myskina said Monday that world number five Maria Sharapova had confirmed she would play for Russia in the Fed Cup opening round match with Netherlands in Moscow on February 6-7.

"We're happy that Russia's top player will be in our squad again," Russia's tennis federation official site quoted Myskina as saying.

"It was her own decision. She said it's very important for her to play in front of her home crowd."

Myskina added that two-time former Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, doubles specialist Ekaterina Makarova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova would also be in the Russian team.