Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

A classic Russian mystery centers over Svetlana Kuznetsova, by far the most experienced player at the disposal of her playing peer and Fed Cup captain Anastasia Myskina before this weekend’s Fed Cup final in Prague.

Currently the former US Open and French Open champion is not in the four player Russian team with Ekaterina Makarova having been given the second singles nomination despite being injured and inactive since the US Open.

Maria Sharapova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Elena Vesnina and 23rd ranked Makarova were the four names submitted by the Russian Tennis Federation before the final against the Czech Republic in Prague. Even though 30 year-old Kuznetsova is in form, having won the 15th singles titles of her career at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow recently and contesting last week’s WTA Elite Trophy event in Zhuhai.

Myskina even coached 25th ranked Kuznetsova in some of her recent matches and the sections of the Czech team are convinced Kuznetsova will be brought in as a late substitute for Makarova who has been troubled by a leg injury.

In Zhuhai, Kuznetsova insisted: “I promised Anastasia I would go and support the team, which I will do. I have ticket on Thursday to fly to Prague. After we’re done here we’ll talk and see what’s better.”

The Russians are most certainly the underdogs against a Czech team that reads Petra Kvitova, Lucie Safarova, Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova .  “I see it’s going to be tough one,” admitted Kuznetsova. “We lost close one to Czech in Moscow in 2011, and it’s going to be tough.

“The Czechs are playing back home and it’s going to be a crazy crowd. Maria been playing well. Petra not always consistent, but she’s playing amazing when she’s on the top. Lucie is there. It’s going to be interesting. I think we have chances. On the paper I don’t know who is favorite. I have no clue.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.