ROME – Flavia Pennetta has been ruled out of Italy’s Fed Cup semi-final in Russia on April 16 and 17 because of a shoulder problem, adding to the holders’ woes after Francesca Schiavone also pulled out. The duo have been the mainstays of Italy’s three Fed Cup triumphs in the last five years but Schiavone is skipping the tie to concentrate on preparing for her French Open title defence and world number 20 Pennetta says she is not fit.
An Italian tennis federation statement on Wednesday said the team would be made up of the unheralded Alberta Brianti and Maria Elena Camerin alongside Fed Cup regulars Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. Russia are putting up a strong side including world number three Vera Zvonareva.
