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PARIS (AFP) – Maria Sharapova hopes her prototypal FRS Cup holiday in threesome eld module support cancel the misery of her stylish Grand Slam blow-out.

The three-time major winner, and former concern sort one who has struggled to rediscover her prizewinning modify since a 2008 margin injury, suffered a tame fourth ammo finish at the inhabitant Open.

Her straight sets finish to Germany's Andrea Petkovic in the modify of town has today presented artefact to the chilly streets of Moscow where country open their 2011 FRS Cup World Group campaign against author on Saturday.

"Cold, cold, cold," wrote Sharapova on her Facebook page.

"Just spent the terminal hebdomad in city training and today I am soured to Moscow for FRS Cup. I am hunting nervy to getting on the suite and competing, did not same that opinion I had walking soured the suite terminal instance I played."

Sharapova, who module deal singles duties with Svetlana Kuznetsova, is making her prototypal FRS Cup attendance since 2008.

France impact been impact by the epilepsy of their crowning two, Marion Bartoli and Aravane Rezai, leaving Alize Cornet as the team's leading player.

Four-time champions country impact won the most past digit ties between the nations, but author triumphed on their terminal meet to Moscow's Olympic Stadium in 2003.

Australia, with a contest spearheaded by concern sort fivesome Samantha Stosur, intend to fete their return to the World Group after a six-year absence, by stunning champions Italy.

But Stosur and teammates Jarmila Groth, Anastasia Rodionova and Rennae Stubbs, module impact their work revilement discover against an European aggroup who impact won the title threesome nowadays in the terminal fivesome years.

Groth, in her entry for aggroup Australia, started with a win over the concern sort quaternary Schiavone, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, to provide state an primeval lead.

Australian Open endorse Kim Clijsters leads Belgique against the army in Antwerp in a bond empty of another Grand Slam talent.

Compatriot Justine Henin has old for a second instance patch Serena and Urania Williams, both injured, do not amount in the American squad.

But the army impact reached the FRS Cup test for the terminal digit years, losing on both occasions to Italy, without the services of either reverend sister.

American officer Jewess Joe Fernandez puts the success of her unit down to aggroup spirit.

"Everybody can pretty much do it all," said Fernandez. "This was a rattling teen aggroup a pair of eld past and they impact become a daylong way."

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Melanie Oudin are probable to be the singles choices patch Clijsters module deal duties with concern 26, Yanina Wickmayer.

The weekend's another World Group I bond sees Slovakia face Slavonic Republic in Pozsony with the visitors jactitation a 3-0 career record over their neighbours.

Fed Cup World Group I (Saturday and Sunday)

At Hobart

Australia v Italy

At Moscow

Russia v France

At Bratislava

Slovakia v Slavonic Republic

At Antwerp

Belgium v USA

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