Week #05 preview: Fed Cup

Fed Cup, 1/4-final World Group
Italy-Spain
China-France
USA-Germany
Israel-Russia

Fed Cup, women's team competition, starts in 2008 and it feautures interesting ties on quarter-final round. Maria Sharapova will make her debut on Russian team and will try to keep her great shape after winning Australian Open to give Russia a victory over Israel, which will rely on her leader Shahar Peer. USA, with the return of Lindsay Davenport, is the favorite over weak Germany. The tie between Italy and Spain will not feature any big star, but two very competitive teams with Italy as the favorite. Finally the most interesting tie will take place in China where local team will try to get to the semis for the first time in Beijing's Olympic year defeating French team, which is full of problems due to bad relationships between some players and with the captain.

World Group II, 1st round
Czech Republic-Slovakia
Japan-Croatia
Argentina-Austria
Ukraine-Belgium

On World Group II, 1st round will decide the teams playing for a place in World Group I next season. Exciting tie between Czech Republic and Slovakia, where Slovakians will try to get revenge of last year's defeat, with Nicole Vaidisova and Daniela Hantuchova as leaders and the rivalry between these nations.