( CNN ) -- Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic is hoping to lead Serbia to a historic first Fed Cup final in Moscow this weekend . The Serbian team , who have never reached the last four until this season , will face a Russian side who have won the tournament four times . But , crucially , they will be without top stars Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva . Armed with a stellar line-up including Ivanovic and fellow former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic , the Serbs are hoping to deliver the biggest upset of the tournament to injury-hit Russia . `` For all of us and for our country it means a lot , '' team captain Dejan Vranes said at the draw on Thursday . `` It 's the first time ( in the semifinals ) after many years . We started this journey five years ago in the Europe/Africa Group 1 in Plovdiv and after five years we 're finally in the semifinals . Our plan is just to fight until the last point -- we 'll see what happens . '' Serbia , who have been beaten by Russia in their last three Fed Cup meetings , is in its strongest position yet to finally claim a victory . Ivanovic has suffered a slump in form since winning the 2008 French Open , but has shown encouraging signs this year rising seven places in the rankings to 15th . The 24-year-old reached the fourth-round of the Australian Open in January and the semifinal in Indian Wells in March . `` We have had a good team for a while but we never seem to come together and actually go for it , '' she said on the official Fed Cup website . `` This is the first time we 're in the semifinals so it 's very thrilling of course . It makes it that much harder with the Olympics of course and everything else this year and it seems like a lot of things are going on . `` The semifinal is just one step from the final and maybe a title -- something I would love to have next to my name . '' Russia should have been the formidable favourite in the historic showdown , taking the title four times in the last decade . In the absence of world No.2 Sharapova and 10th-ranked Zvonareva , Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev has turned to two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova , as well as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova , Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina . In the other semifinal reigning champions the Czech Republic take on three-time winners Italy . World No . 3 Petra Kvitova is expected to lead the home side in Ostrava as she bounces back from illness and injury which have plagued her for the past two months . The 2011 Wimbledon champion will be joined by 23rd-ranked Lucie Safarova , and doubles partners Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka . The Italians , led by 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavore and world No.22 Flavia Pennetta have won four of their last seven meetings .
Serbia to face Russia in their first ever Fed Cup semifinal . Serb Ana Ivanovic , ranked 15 , will lead campaign against injury-hit Russia . The former world No . 1 is hoping to make a comeback after career slump . Czech Republic will face Italy in opposing semifinal , with Petra Kvitova hoping to return to form .