Fed Cup team aims for place in history

Four months of anticipation and almost 12 years of waiting will come to an end on Saturday morning when Shahar Pe'er faces Dinara Safina in the first match of Israel's Fed Cup tie against Russia at Ramat Hasharon.
 

Israel, which is playing in the World Group of the competition for the first time ever, will be looking to claim a sensational victory against the Fed Cup holders over the weekend in what will be its first home tie since defeating Lithuania 3-0 in March of 1996.
 
In the second match on Saturday, Tzipi Obziler will be aiming for the biggest win of her career when she faces the newly-crowned Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova in the Russian superstar's Fed Cup debut.
 
The reverse singles will be played on Sunday, with Pe'er playing Sharapova in the first match of the day and Obziler matched up against Safina ahead of what could turn-out to be a decisive doubles match.
 
Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev picked Safina (16 in the world) as his No. 2 player over Anna Chakvetadze, despite the latter being ranked No. 7 in the world.
 
Both Safina and Chakvetadze have had a less than ideal start to 2008.
 

Safina lost to Pe'er (17) in the quarterfinals of her first tournament of the year at Gold Coast, Australia, and was shocked in the first round of the Australian Open by German qualifier Sabine Lisicki.
 
Chakvetadze was ousted in the first round of the Sydney tournament in the second week of January and lost to fellow countrywomen Maria Kirilenko in the third round in Melbourne.
 
"I don't think it makes any difference if we're playing against Safina or Chakvetadze," Israel captain Oded Jacob said on Thursday after the draw for the order of matches was made.
 
"Pe'er knows both of them very well and she's happy to be facing Safina in front of our crowd. Pe'er met Safina in January and knows her game very well. We've made all the needed preparations and the girls are all in excellent shape, so we're ready to go."
 
Israel booked its place among the elite eight in July of last year after winning its 11th consecutive Fed Cup tie, defeating Austria 4-1 in the World Group playoff.
 
Pe'er's match on Saturday will likely be the key to the entire tie, as a loss for the Israeli No. 1 will probably see the Russians take an almost unassailable 2-0 lead into the second day.
 
"I've played Safina several times before, she's an excellent player," Pe'er said. "We're playing at home so it's impossible to tell what will happen."
 
Of finally playing in front of the Israeli crowd Pe'er, who has won 11 consecutive singles matches in the Fed Cup, added: "I've played in a lot of matches, including some exciting ones, but I've never played at home and this is a dream for me.
 
"I've played in front of 20,000 fans before, but that's not the same as playing before your own crowd. I'm sure I'll be slightly nervous at the beginning of the match, but I'm ready for it."
 
Russia won its third Fed Cup title in four years in 2007, defeating Italy 4-0 in Moscow without Sharapova. The team has beaten Israel in both of their previous meetings, in the first round in 1987 and again in 1997.
 
"It's going to be difficult because all of the crowd will be cheering for her," Safina said on Thursday. "I need to focus on myself and ignore the fans and just play my game."
 
Sharapova (5), who won the Australian Open last month without losing a set, wasn't concerned with Thursday's draw.
 
"Our main concern is just to get a win at the end of the day no matter who we play," she said. "I don't know too much about Obziler, but I hope to learn her game at the start of the match."
 
Obziler (85), who is Israel's all-time leader in singles wins in Fed Cup play (48), was pleased with the fact that she's playing second on Saturday.
 
"It gives me a chance to get used to the atmosphere during Shahar's match and that will help me," said the 34-year-old veteran, who made her Fed Cup debut 14 years ago.
 
"This is a dream come true and my expectations from myself are very high. For years I'd watch the men play Davis Cup and would imagine myself playing in front of the Israeli fans. I'm excited just thinking about it."