Wed Apr 16 15:27:23 2008

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Weak U.S. team revealed for Fed Cup semi against Russia

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White Plains, NY (Sports Network) - When the United States meets defending champion Russia in next week's Fed Cup semifinals, it will do so without any of its top players.

Captain Zina Garrison announced on Wednesday that the 17-time champion Americans will head to Moscow with Vania King, Ahsha Rolle, Madison Brengle and Liezel Huber, the No. 1 doubles player in the world. Former top-ranked stars Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport all made themselves unable for the event.

The powerful Russians, captained by Shamil Tarpischev, will counter with world No. 3 U.S. Open runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova, sixth-ranked Anna Chakvetadze, No. 16 Dinara Safina and Elena Vesnina. None of the Americans playing next week are ranked inside the WTA Tour's top 100.

The best-of-five tie will be staged April 26-27 on an indoor clay court at Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki."

The U.S. and Russia have met six times in Fed Cup play, with the Americans owning a 4-2 advantage. The Russians won their last meeting, a semifinal one in Stowe, Vermont, last year.

Team Russia has won three of the last four Fed Cup titles, while the U.S. hasn't captured the chalice since 2000. The Russians topped Italy in last year's finale.

The USA-Russia winner will meet the Spain-China victor in the final in September.

Fed Cup is the world's largest annual international women's team competition, with 86 countries competing this year.