Spain Outlasts U.S. in Federation Cup

Spain’s dramatic 3-hour 40-minute doubles victory Sunday in Madrid eliminated the United States in the Federation Cup semifinals.

Playing before a boisterous home crowd waving Spanish flags, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez defeated Lisa Raymond and Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 11-9, in a match that finished under floodlights and gave the Spaniards a three-matches-to-two victory over the Americans. Spain will play Switzerland in the Federation Cup final in September.

In the first match of the day, No. 5-ranked Monica Seles had given the United States a 2-1 lead with a 6-4, 6-0 win over No. 4 Sanchez Vicario in their first match since the Spaniard beat Seles in this year’s French Open final.

Martinez, ranked seventh, then averted her team’s defeat by sweeping Raymond 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, in singles.

In Sion, Switzerland, Martina Hingis struggled before beating Amelie Mairesmo and clinching Switzerland’s first appearance in the Federation Cup final. The 6-7 (8-6), 6-4, 6-2 victory by Hingis gave the Swiss an insurmountable lead in a 5-0 victory over defending champion France.

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Second-seeded Andre Agassi needed only 50 minutes to defeat No. 14 Scott Draper of Australia, 6-2, 6-0, to win the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at WashingtonD.C.

It was the fastest final on the ATP Tour this year, and it gave Agassi a record fourth title in the event. “If I’m playing like this, I feel like I can win this U.S. Open,” Agassi said.

Agassi didn’t lose a set during the Washington event, where his serve was broken only once and his matches averaged 59 minutes.

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Marcelo Rios, No. 2 in the world, withdrew from next week’s tournament in Kitzbuhel, Austria, because of a skin ailment.