| Will Russia will be able to repeat its 2007 Federation | | | | Russia and US are equally poised. If these two teams |
| Cup success this time? | | | | make it to finals of the Federation Cup then |
| The Fed Cup 2008, the team event of women tennis, | | | | undoubtedly the sole responsibility of anchoring their |
| will begin in just few days from now and the sports | | | | teams will fall on the shoulders of Sharapova and |
| critics as well as tennis fans have already started | | | | Davenport. And if these two players clash for the Cup |
| doing predictions about who is going to win the 2008 | | | | for their teams in singles match, then by seeing the |
| Federation Cup. Will it be the tennis superpower, | | | | current form of Sharapova it will be she who will |
| Russia again, who had crushed Italy 4-0 in the finals | | | | comfortably defeat Davenport. Thus, in all likelihood, it's |
| last year? Or will it besome other country lifting the | | | | Russia who is going to lift the 2008 Federation Cup |
| Federation Cup? | | | | unless and until these Russian ladies are betrayed by |
| The zonal competition of the Federation Cup 2008 will | | | | lady luck. |
| begin from 28 Jan while the 1st round of World Group | | | | Teams for World Group stage: |
| stage will commence from the February 2 and will | | | | China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, Spain, |
| continue till Feb 3. The finals will be played from 13 Sep | | | | United States of America |
| to 16 Sep. | | | | Schedule for the World Group stage: |
| Since we are talking about the winner for 2008 | | | | 1st round matches (2-3 Feb) |
| Federation Cup, lets first go to the world group stage | | | | Russia vs Israel |
| and see which all teams are there. The Federation | | | | US vs Germany |
| Cup world group stage has the following eight teams. | | | | China vs France |
| It has reigning champion Russia, last year's finalist Italy, | | | | Spain vs Italy |
| USA, Israel, Germany, China, France, and Spain. Out of | | | | Semi-finals will be played on 26-27 April while the final |
| these eight teams, the teams that have chance to | | | | will take place on 13-14 September. |
| clinch the federation cup are Russia, USA, and France. | | | | World Group Teams |
| These three teams have sure shot chance of winning | | | | US Fed Cup Team: Lindsay Davenport, Laura Granville, |
| the Federation Cup 2008; however, the rest of the | | | | Ashley Harkleroad and Lisa Raymond. |
| teams too can do some upsets. Though that's seems | | | | Russian Fed Cup Team: Maria Sharapova, Anna |
| unlikely. | | | | Chakvetadze, Dinara Safina and Elena Vesnina. |
| And going by the teams composition, one can easily | | | | France Fed Cup Team: Amelie Mauresmo, Marion |
| bet their money on two teams Russia and USA for | | | | Bartoli, Virginie Razzano and Nathalie Dechy. |
| the 2008 Federation Cup. Both these teams have | | | | Italian Fed Cup Team: Francesca Schiavone, Flavia |
| included one star player like Russia has roped in Maria | | | | Pennetta, Tathiana Garbin and Sara Errani. |
| Sharopova; while the US team has included multiple | | | | China's Fed Cup Team: Li Na, Peng Shuai, Zheng Jie |
| Grand Slam winner Lindsay Davenport. | | | | and Yan Zi. |
| Except for these two players rest of the team of | | | | |