MOSCOW -- Germany has surprisingly left its two highest ranked players to play only doubles when the team faces Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals.
Eleventh-ranked Andrea Petkovic and No. 14 Angelique Kerber were named in Sunday's doubles team to face Vera Zvonareva and Elena Vesnina.
In singles, 63rd-ranked Julia Goerges will start Germany's challenge on Saturday against Svetlana Kuznetsova. Sabine Lisicki will then face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Reverse singles will be played Sunday before the doubles.
Maria Sharapova pulled out of the best-of-five series this week, citing a leg injury.