 Sharapova has yet to play in the Fed Cup |
Maria Sharapova has been left out of Russia's squad for the Fed Cup first-round tie against Italy later this month. Team captain Shamil Tarpishchev went to Miami last week to try and persuade the 17-year-old to join the squad.
"I spoke to her father and we decided not to include her," said Tarpishchev. "It is a burden to play all the tournaments in a row."
The team is Ana Myskina, Dinara Safina, Elena Bovina and Elena Dementieva.
Sharapova has yet to make her Fed Cup debut and denied speculation last week suggesting she was about to switch her allegiance to the US, where she has lived since childhood.
The Wimbledon champion was the subject of a row last year when French Open champion Myskina threatened to quit the Russian team if Sharapova was picked.
She was unhappy with the courtside behaviour of Sharapova's father Yuri Sharapov.
MMIX
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