Sharapova, Myskina out of Belgian Fed Cup test
Maria Sharapova and Anastasia Myskina will skip Russia`s forthcoming Fed Cup tie against Belgium.
Speaking from the Pacific Life Open, where she is the third seed, former Wimbledon champion Sharapova said she did not feel in good enough shape to compete in the tie on clay in Liege.
"My body is just not ready after two tough tournaments to go and play Fed Cup," said Sharapova, who has yet to play for Russia despite claims that she eventually intends to.
"It`s my own personal decision, and I`m not going to be influenced by what anyone else does.
I won`t be forced into it. My body just isn`t ready to go from hard courts to clay courts that quickly."
Following the Pacific Life Open, Sharapova and Myskina will be competing at the NASDAQ-100 in Miami.
Former French Open champion Myskina, who led Russia to the 2004 Fed Cup title, said that she had decided to skip the Fed Cup altogether this year.
"It`s too much for me," she said. "This year, I want to play for myself. I`ve played every time they asked me to play again, but it`s been too much now."
Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters have both said they would play for Belgium in the April tie, the first time they have teamed up together since 2003.
Yelena Dementyeva, who also played in Russia`s Fed Cup team last year, said she would play, as will Nadia Petrova, who won in Qatar last week.
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