Italy recall Pennetta for Fed Cup final

MILAN, Sept 5 (Reuters) Italy coach Corrado Barazzutti has recalled Flavia Pennetta for their Fed Cup final defence against Russia later this month.

The world number 83 replaces Tathiana Garbin, who played in July's semi-final victory over France but has lost form in recent weeks.

Garbin, the 23rd seed, went out in the first round of the US Open to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.

Italy number one Francesca Schiavone, Mara Santangelo and Roberta Vinci will join Pennetta for the final in Moscow on Sept. 15-16.

Karin Knapp, 20, will also attend the Luzhniki Arena for experience as a fifth member of the team, the Italian Tennis Federation Web site (www.federtennis.it) said.

World number four Svetlana Kuznetsova will lead a powerful Russian team.

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev has named the 2004 US Open champion along with world number six Anna Chakvetadze, world number eight Nadia Petrova and 56th-ranked Elena Vesnina.

Tarpishchev did not include world number two and 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova, who pulled out of the July semi-final against the United States citing a shoulder injury.

Twice champions Russia are the favourites to beat last year's surprise winners Italy and regain the title they won in 2004 and 2005.

REUTERS SSC BD1644