Russia`s tennis team captain Shamil Tarpischev comments on his US visa problems.

Russia faces the formidable American team in Fed Cup semifinals but the team`s chances to win seem slim now that the strongest players Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova refused to take part in the away-rubber through injuries.

Thus, the Russian team will be made up of Anna Chakvetadze, Nadezhda Petrova, Elena Vesnina and Alla Kudryavtseva.

However, the team captain Shamil Tarpischev faces not only squad problems: he has no visa yet.

"I handed over all the necessary papers in time but they say they will give me a visa on Wednesday only," said Tarpischev to Sport Express.

"We were to have started trainings on Monday so I just can`t understand an approach like this."

"I need to be in America not to have a rest but to work."
sections: Society, Sport