"If Maria Sharapova joins our team next season, you won't see me there" - When Russian's teammate objected to her addition in Fed Cup team

A few years ago, Maria Sharapova's compatriot Anastasia Myskina publicly said she didn't want the former to be added to Russia's Fed Cup team.

Sharapova had an impressive career during which she won five Grand Slams and became one of the most popular athletes on the planet. She rose to prominence in 2004, when she won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old by defeating Serena Williams in the final. Sharapova was among three Russian Grand Slam champions that year; Myskina (French Open) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (US Open) were the other two.

Myskina also starred for her country at the 2004 Fed Cup, helping Russia reach the final. At the time, however, she had a few words to say about Maria Sharapova.

Myskina said she didn't want to be in the same team as Sharapova since she believed the latter didn't show her respect. The 2004 French Open champion also said she would not be in the team if the then-teenager was present.

"I don't want to be on the same team with people who don't show respect to me as a person. If she joins our team next season, you won't see me there," Myskina said as quoted by Guardian.

Russia went on to lose the 2004 Fed Cup Final, suffering a 3-2 defeat against France. Myskina won both of her singles matches against Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin.

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Maria Sharapova and Anastasia Myskina locked horns on five occasions

Maria Sharapova with Max Verstappen at the Monte-Carlo Grand Prix

Maria Sharapova faced Anatasia Myskina five times and Svetlana Kuznetsova 13 times. She trailed 3-2 in the head-to-head against Myskina but led 8-5 against Kuznetsova.

Sharapova's first match against Myskina came in the third round of the 2004 Australian Open, with the latter winning 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. Myskina won the next two matches as well, triumphing in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open and the quarterfinals of the Acura Classic in San Diego.

The fourth meeting between the two came in the semifinals of the 2004 WTA Finals (then known as the WTA Tour Championships). Sharapova won 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the final, where she beat Serena Williams.

The fifth and final encounter between the two Russians came in the quarterfinals of the 2006 Miami Open (then known as the Nasdaq-100 Open). Sharapova triumphed 6-3, 6-3 to reach the semifinals. She then beat Tatiana Golovin to set up a final clash against Svetlana Kuznetsova, which she lost.