Russia are hoping to host this year's Fed Cup finals for the first time, the country's tennis chief said on Tuesday.

"August 13 is the deadline, so tomorrow morning we are going to submit our application to have the Final Four in Moscow," Shamil Tarpishchev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, told Reuters.

Belgium, France, the United States and Russia have made it to the last four, which will be played in one of the participating nations.

In the semi-finals, 2001 champions Belgium will take on the Americans, who have won the tournament a record 17 times, while France, winners in 1997, face Russia.

Tarpishchev said that Belgium and the United States have also expressed an interest to host the event, which starts on November 17.

"Much will depend on which country is offering a better deal, but I see our chances to host the Final Four as quite good," he said.

The Russians are also hoping to win the most prestigious prize in women's international team tennis for the first time after crushing Slovenia 5-0 in last month's quarter-finals.

Russia, who entered the competition in 1968 as Soviet Union, have never won the Fed Cup having lost all four finals they have contested.

This year, they are led by Anastasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva, who are all in the world's top 20.

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