The Russian Fed Cup team showed strength in numbers.
Russia has replaced the current world No. 2 with the former world No. 2.
More: Sharapova Pulls out of Fed Cup Semifinals
Former Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva has replaced Maria Sharapova on the Russian squad the day after Sharapova withdrew from Russia's Fed Cup tie against visiting Germany, citing a leg injury.
Zvonareva joins Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina for this weekend's semifinal on the red clay of Sochi against a formidable German team that boasts 11th-ranked Andrea Petkovic, Charleston champion Angelique Kerber, Sabine Lisicki and Julia Goerges.
The 136th-ranked Zvonareva owns an 8-2 lifetime record in Fed Cup competition. She has not played a Fed Cup match since sweeping Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in succession, leading Russia to a 5-0 victory over Italy in the 2011 semifinals in Moscow.
Interestingly, Zvonareva's lone Fed Cup doubles match came partnering former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina. The pair clinched Russia's 3-2 victory over France in the 2004 Fed Cup final in Moscow. Myskina is now the Russian Fed Cup captain.
Photo credit: @BNPParibasOpen