Hingis steers Swiss to victory

BRNO (CZECH REPUBLIC), April 20: Martina Hingis won three matches, including a three-set defeat of Jana Novotna, to guide Switzerland to a 4...

BRNO (CZECH REPUBLIC), April 20: Martina Hingis won three matches, including a three-set defeat of Jana Novotna, to guide Switzerland to a 4-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their Federation Cup World Group tie.

World number one Hingis, born in the former Czechoslovakia and named after the country’s greatest woman tennis player, Martina Navratilova, overcame early nerves to defeat world number three Novotna 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to put the Swiss up 2-1.

Swiss number two, Patty Schnyder gave her country an unassailable 3-1 lead in the first round tie when she beat Adriana Gersi 6-3, 6-3 in the final reverse singles.

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The two then paired up in the doubles to demolish Ludmila Richterova and Denisa Chladkova 6-0, 6-1. After the final match, Hana Mandlikova, winner of four Grand Slam titles in the 1980s, resigned as Czech team captain.

The Czech Tennis Association is also looking for a Davis Cup captain after sacking Vladimir Savrda earlier this week because of the team’s poor performance in losing toSwitzerland in the first round of this year’s competition.

GHENT (BELGIUM): Defending Fed Cup champion France reached the semifinals yesterday as veteran Nathalie Tauziat and Alexandra Fusai teamed to win the crucial doubles over Belgium’s Els Callens and Laurence Courtois 6-4, 6-0.

Also advancing to the World Group I semifinals in July were Spain. The United States held a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands after the first day and was also likely to move on.

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The French, playing without No. 1 player Mary Pierce, were even at 1-1 after Saturday but fell behind 2-1 when Dominique Van Roost beat Sandrine Testud in yesterday’s first reverse singles 7-5, 7-6 (9-7). But Sarah Pitkowski saved France in the second singles, beating Sabine Appelmans 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.Switzerland faces France in the July 25-26 semifinals.

In Saarbruecken, Germany, Magu Serna and Conchita Martinez defeated Andrea Glass and Wiltrud Probst in doubles to give Spain a 3-2 win and a place in the semifinals. The Spaniards won the decisivedoubles 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

In reverse singles, Glass beat Martinez 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, but Serna rallied to win over Jana Kandarr 6-3, 6-4.

The Spaniards played without injured Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, No. 6 in the World. Germany was without Steffi Graf and Anke Huber, who are both injured, and used Fed Cup rookies Glass and Kandarr.

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In Perth, Australia, Russia ousted Australia in their World Group II first-round tie. Russia took an unbeatable 3-0 lead when Tatiana Panova won over Rachel McQuillan 7-6 (7-0), 6-3.

In Foligno, hosts Italy advanced when it took an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Austria on Francesca Lubiana’s win over Sylvia Plischke 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 6-1. Argentina and Slovakia were tied 1-1 after Saturday’s play. The other opening-round tie between Japan and Croatia is set for next weekend.