Myskina threatens to quit Russian Fed Cup
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-27 13:39

French Open champion Anastasia Myskina will quit Russia's Fed Cup team if Maria Sharapova joins the squad next year, saying she doesn't like the Wimbledon champion's father, Yuri.

"I feel his behavior is totally incorrect, simply rude. I don't want to be around people like him," Myskina said at the Fed Cup semifinals, where Russia eliminated Austria on Thursday.

Russia's Anastasia Myskina returns a shot to Austria's Patricia Wartusch during their semifinal Fed Cup tennis match in Moscow, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004. Myskina won 6-0, 6-0. [AP]

Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev said Sharapova agreed to play Fed Cup next season and added that "those players who will be in better condition" will be on the team.

"As far as Myskina's statement is concerned, she's in conflict with (Sharapova's) father, not with Maria," Tarpischev said. "Yes, her father is an emotional person. But in my team captain career in both men's and women's squads, there have been many conflicts, so it's my job to solve them."

Myskina won her first three matchups with Sharapova this year, then lost to the 17-year-old in this month's WTA Championships semifinals in Los Angeles. After that match, Myskina accused Yuri of illegally coaching his daughter from the stands.

"He was just yelling and screaming instructions to her, and I thought he just might jump right on the court at one point in the match," Myskina said.

Sharapova was assessed a code violation for being coached by her father during her victory over Serena Williams in the final.

"If she joins our team next season, you won't see me there for sure," Myskina said. "I do not want to be on a team with people who do not respect me."

Myskina previously expressed a dislike for the Florida-based Sharapova at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow last month.

"She is more American then Russian. She speaks Russian with a coarse accent," Myskina said.

Sharapova and her father moved to Florida when she was 7.

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