Russia to recall Andreev for Davis Cup quarter-final

By Gennady Fyodorov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will recall clay-court specialist Igor Andreev for the Davis Cup quarter-final with the Czech Republic in April, captain Shamil Tarpishchev said.

Russia defeated injury-hit Serbia 3-2 in their first-round match on an indoor hard court at the weekend to set up a home tie at the Czechs which is set to be played on clay at the 6,000-seat Luzhniki arena.

Tarpishchev said the surface for the Fed Cup semi-final against the United States two weeks later had yet to be decided.

"Most definitely we'll host the Czechs on clay but for the Fed Cup we have a few options -- it depends on the players," he said.

Tarpishchev, who also coaches the Fed Cup team, expects world number three Svetlana Kuznetsova or Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova to spearhead Russia's challenge against the Americans.

This month, Florida-based Sharapova made her Fed Cup debut for Russia, leading them to a 4-1 first-round win over Israel in Tel Aviv.

"If we have Kuznetsova we'll play on clay, with Sharapova it'll be a hard court," Tarpishchev told Reuters.

"Of course, we can also make a last-minute switch depending on who the Americans will bring. If it's the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) almost certainly we'll pick clay."