Ljubljana, July 20: Slovenian captain Mima Jausovec is relishing taking on favourites Russia in this weekend's Fed Cup quarter-final, hoping team spirit and a partisan home crowd can help them to a shock victory.
''We have been waiting for this ever since Slovenian independence in 1991,'' she said of the forthcoming clash. ''We came very close several times, but we always failed just a couple of steps away from the top.
''We could easily compare this achievement with the success of our football team which played at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea last year. Beating Argentina in the opening round and advancing to the quarter-final is fantastic.''
For Slovenia, the match marks a first Fed Cup quarter-final. It also represents a massive challenge against a fast-progressing tennis nation.
Russia's Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev boasts four players in the world's top 21 in his squad of Anastasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva, Vera Zvonareva and Elena Bovina for the tie in Portoroz.



Still, however, he refused to be complacent. ''Slovenia has some quality players and should not be underestimated,'' he told the local media in the eve of the tie.



Despite lacking a single top 30 player in her team, Jausovec is confident Katarina Srebotnik, Maja Matevzic, Tina Pisnik and Tina Krizan can do her proud.



''We are aware that the Russians are clear favourites. But at the same time we think we also have some good chances.



''On the slow clay surface and with a little help from the supporting crowd anything could happen,'' she said. ''It's the first time we've really have a complete squad, so it's tough to decide who will play,'' she said, adding: ''It's better to have three equal players than only one very good, otherwise we wouldn't be where we are.''



Srebotnik, currently 35th in the world and Slovenia's highest ranking player, said that she expected a close contest.



''At present I am in great form and I hope it will stay like this at least until the end of the week,'' she said.


Bureau Report