The vast majority of the tennis world may be focused on London with the ATP World Tour Finals set to get underway.  But there is still one order of business to take care of as far as a handful of the women of the WTA are concerned.  Russia will face the Czech Republic this weekend for the right to be crowned Fed Cup Champion.  It is a contest that could not only provide plenty of top-notch tennis, but also prove pivotal for some of the participants heading into 2016.

On paper, there is every reason to believe that spectators are going to be treated to something special during this championship weekend with both countries boasting strong squads.  The Russian team will be led by Maria Sharapova, who is making her first appearance in a Fed Cup final, and it also includes other talents Ekaterina Makarova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Elena Vesnina.  That is a tough lineup for any opponent to master, and yet Russia will enter this tie as the underdog.  That is because the Czechs, who have been named Fed Cup champions three of the last four years, have put together an even more impressive roster.  They are spearheaded by two women currently in the top 10 with Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova, followed by young upstart and current No. 11 Karolina Pliskova and rounded out with a solid veteran in Barbora Strycova. 

With both countries fielding such loaded teams, this is a tie that is bound to come down to a few key factors.  First among them is how Sharapova will respond to this moment, given that she has not played a lot of tennis in the second half of this season, and in turn, how Kvitova and Safarova will cope with the pressure of competing against a player of Sharapova's stature.  Sharapova is the most accomplished competitor on either team, and she possesses a winning record against both of the Czech Republic's top two singles players.  That said, Kvitova has defeated Sharapova in their last two meetings, including a few weeks ago at the WTA Championships in Singapore, and Safarova also won her most recent outing against the Russian by snagging a victory this past spring at Roland Garros.  Furthermore, while any member of the Russian squad is capable of earning a win, there is no question that the Czechs have a deeper lineup for singles, which puts greater pressure on Sharapova to deliver when she takes to the court. 

For all the importance assigned to singles play, however, the doubles cannot be overlooked.  With Vesnina and Makarova both top-ranked doubles players, it is Russia who can piece together the stronger duo.  But Safarova enjoys the highest doubles ranking of any player at this tie and won a couple of majors with Bethanie Mattek-Sands this year as well.  Pair her with Strycova, and they are sure to be an even match for the Russian tandem, adding just one more element of drama to this contest.

There is plenty at stake for everyone on both teams this weekend, but it might come to be especially significant for three of the participants.  Sharapova, Kvitova, and Safarova are three women who can be very dangerous when they garner momentum, and that is what is on the table for them in this tie.  Sharapova had an injury-marred 2015, which is what made her run to the semifinals in Singapore so impressive.  She will be keen to end her year on a high note as a means to begin building momentum and confidence heading into next year.  Like Sharapova, Kvitova also had an inconsistent year, albeit not due to injuries.  She has typically played some of her best tennis in Fed Cup competition and will be looking to call on that again in an effort to set herself up for improvement at the majors in 2016.  And lastly, Safarova is looking to cap off what has been the most successful season of her career.  The late-blooming Czech broke new ground in 2015, and she will be eager to continue her momentum as she looks to match and add to her list of achievements next season.

Unfortunately for these women and their respective teams, there can be only one Fed Cup champion.  The Czechs are the favorites, but the Russians still have a solid look at causing the upset.  All told, the ingredients are there for this to be a tight and thrilling affair that should not be overlooked as the World Tour Finals opens in London.