World number two Maria Sharapova has pulled out of Russia's Fed Cup tie against Spain with shoulder and hamstring injuries, preventing her from making her long-awaited debut in the competition.
"My doctors have a positive outlook, despite telling me I cannot play for a while," she said on her Web site www.mariasharapova.com on Monday. "They are confident that, with five or six weeks of rest, I will be ready for the next events."
Sharapova had been planning to make her first Fed Cup appearance in the World Group first round tie on April 21-22 in Moscow, dispelling years of doubt in the Russian media over whether she would ever play for her country.
The Florida-based 19-year-old made herself available shortly after winning last year's US Open title. Playing Fed Cup for Russia would make Sharapova eligible to play in next year's Beijing Olympics.