CASTELLANETA MARINA, Italy - Russia will be missing Maria Sharapova and maybe their coach for this weekend's Fed Cup semi-final against the United States while defending champions Italy face a daunting task against France.

Maria Sharapova accepts the award for best international female athlete during the 15th annual ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, in Los Angeles. [AP]

World number two Sharapova has pulled out of the U.S. clash in Stowe, Vermont saying she was not match fit having initially agreed to make her Fed Cup debut in the hardcourt semi.

Sharapova has been suffering with a shoulder injury since April but Russian tennis officials have accused her of being selfish and questioned whether her American entourage had influenced the decision.

Russia's Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev could also be forced to miss the tie after he said he had been denied a U.S. visa.

Tarpishchev has asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move the tie to a neutral country and even considered boycotting the event.

"The Americans always like to talk about human rights and democracy but they are the first ones to deny others the same rights," he told Reuters.

A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow said Tarpishchev's visa application was being processed by U.S. authorities in Washington.

By contrast, the American team are on a high after Venus Williams triumphed at Wimbledon for the fourth time on Sunday, beating Sharapova on the way.

Venus and sister Serena are both likely to compete despite picking up injuries at the All England Club, with Lisa Raymond and Vania King making up the quartet.

NO BARTOLI

In the other semi on Castellaneta Marina's clay, France visit Italy without Wimbledon singles runners-up Marion Bartoli after captain Georges Goven turned down her request to be accompanied by her father and coach, Walter.

Goven picked Amelie Mauresmo, who lost her Wimbledon crown when she was beaten by Nicole Vaidisova in the fourth round, as well as Tatiana Golovin, Nathalie Dechy and Severine Bremond.

Italy, who hammered China 5-0 in the Fed Cup quarters in April, know they will have to play substantially better than they did at Wimbledon if they are to have the chance of defending their title in the final in September.

Francesca Schiavone, Tathiana Garbin, and Roberta Vinci were dumped out in the second round while Mara Santangelo lost in round three to Mauresmo, whom she could face again over the Saturday and Sunday programme.

"I really want to be part of the adventure, and help the girls reach the final," Mauresmo told www.fedcup.com. "Fed Cup could be a good way for me to get going; I love the team spirit of it."