Will Russia will be able to repeat its 2007 Federation Cup success this time? The Federation Cup 2008, the team event of women tennis, will begin in just few days from now and the sports critics as well as tennis fans have already started doing predictions about who is going to win the 2008 Federation Cup. Will it be the tennis superpower, Russia again, who had crushed Italy 4-0 in the finals last year? Or will it be some other country lifting the Federation Cup?

The zonal competition of the Federation Cup 2008 will begin from 28 Jan while the 1st round of World Group stage will commence from the February 2 and will continue till Feb 3. The finals will be played from 13 Sep to 16 Sep.

Since we are talking about the winner for 2008 Federation Cup, lets first go to the world group stage and see which all teams are there. The Federation Cup world group stage has the following eight teams.

It has reigning champion Russia, last year’s finalist Italy, USA, Israel, Germany, China, France, and Spain. Out of these eight teams, the teams that have chance to clinch the federation cup are Russia, USA, and France. These three teams have sure shot chance of winning the Federation Cup 2008; however, the rest of the teams too can do some upsets. Though that’s seems unlikely.

And going by the teams composition, one can easily bet their money on two teams Russia and USA for the 2008 Federation Cup. Both these teams have included one star player like Russia has roped in Maria Sharopova; while the US team has included multiple Grand Slam winner Lindsay Davenport.

Except for these two players rest of the team of Russia and US are equally poised. If these two teams make it to finals of the Federation Cup then undoubtedly the sole responsibility of anchoring their teams will fall on the shoulders of Sharapova and Davenport. And if these two players clash for the Cup for their teams in singles match, then by seeing the current form of Sharapova it will be she who will comfortably defeat Davenport. Thus, in all likelihood, it’s Russia who is going to lift the 2008 Federation Cup unless and until these Russian ladies are betrayed by lady luck.

Teams for World Group stage: China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, Spain, United States of America

Schedule for the World Group stage:

1st round matches (2-3 Feb)

Russia vs Israel

US vs Germany

China vs France

Spain vs Italy

Semi-finals will be played on 26-27 April while the final will take place on 13-14 September.

World Group Teams

US Fed Cup Team: Lindsay Davenport, Laura Granville, Ashley Harkleroad and Lisa Raymond.

Russian Fed Cup Team: Maria Sharapova, Anna Chakvetadze, Dinara Safina and Elena Vesnina.

France Fed Cup Team: Amelie Mauresmo, Marion Bartoli, Virginie Razzano and Nathalie Dechy.

Italian Fed Cup Team: Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Tathiana Garbin and Sara Errani.

China’s Fed Cup Team: Li Na, Peng Shuai, Zheng Jie and Yan Zi.

Spain Fed Cup Team: Anabel Medina Garrigues, Lourdes Dominguez-Lino, Virginia Ruano and Nuria Llagostera Vives.

Israel Fed Cup Team: Shahar Peer, Tzipora Obziler, Keren Shlomo and Julia Glushko.

German Fed Cup Team: Tatjana Malek, Julia Georges, Sabine Lisicki and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.