Fed Cup

Chanda Rubin and Alexandra Stevenson will replace the injured Monica Seles and Venus Williams on the U.S. Fed Cup team that will face Italy in a quarterfinal July 19-20 in Washington. Seles withdrew because of a foot injury. Williams is recovering from an abdominal strain sustained during Wimbledon, where she lost to her younger sister Serena on Saturday in the women's final. Rubin, ranked eighth in the world, has a 4-2 record in singles and 1-0 in doubles in three Fed Cup appearances since 1995.

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VALENCIA, Spain -- American rookie Chanda Rubin stole some of the spotlight with an upset victory over Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, but Spain overcame the United States, 3-2, to capture its third consecutive Federation Cup title yesterday.After Spain took a 2-0 lead on the first day of the five-match final, Conchita Martinez clinched the victory by defeating U.S. No. 1 Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-3, 6-4. Rubin, who replaced injured Monica Seles, stopped the Spanish singles blitz by beating Sanchez Vicario, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, before a sold-out stadium of 6,000 chanting fans.

ATLANTA — Tiger Woods didn't qualify for the Tour Championship, his second consecutive miss. Nor is Jim Furyk around to defend his title. They account for three of the four FedEx Cup crowns awarded since the PGA Tour's "playoff" series was introduced. Vijay Singh did make the 30-man lineup but needs serious help to take home the $10 million FedEx top prize. Ditto for Phil Mickelson. Suffice it to say the FedEx Cup will have a fresh champion when the final putt drops Sunday at East Lake Golf Club.

NEW YORK -- The United States' team that will play host to Russia in the Fed Cup Finals on Sept. 18-19 will be a powerhouse, with four of the top six players in the world rankings.Yesterday, captain Billie Jean King named No. 2 Lindsay Davenport, No. 3 Venus Williams, No. 4 Monica Seles and No. 6 Serena Williams to the team."It's going to be great," said Davenport after rushing Amy Frazier off Arthur Ashe Stadium Court at the U.S. Open, 6-1, 6-1. "I think we probably have the strongest team ever assembled.

WASHINGTON - The second set was churning along and Chanda Rubin was not pleased. Her erratic backhand had her overcompensating with pressure on her forehand, and her forehand was not responding the way she wanted. When she pushed an easy forehand volley long, she clasped her hand over her white hat in total embarrassment. Rubin, ranked No. 8 in the world, was the anchor of this U.S. Fed Cup team, and she was out to prove she deserved it. As she faced Italian Francesca Schiavone in what would be the deciding match in an American sweep, she willed herself to steady her game and put her opponent away.

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KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- Not to be outdone by the U.S. Davis Cup Dream Team of top-ranked Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, Billie Jean King was hoping to drop a bombshell of her own today by announcing the Federation Cup team that will face the Netherlands next month.Encouraged by Monica Seles' apparent interest in playing in the Olympics in 1996, King, the team captain, said she intended to speak with Seles last night about her availability for this year's Fed Cup matches. King, speaking during the Lipton Championships, also planned to recruit Jennifer Capriati, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist.

WASHINGTON - When Chanda Rubin approached the five tables spread under some trees at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, set up for Wednesday's Federation Cup news conference, she grimaced when she saw her name card on the one table that was situated in full sunlight. The coincidence was not lost on Rubin, who is the unexpected anchor of the United States' Fed Cup team that takes on Italy today and tomorrow in the quarterfinals. "I guess it is fitting," she said. When this tie - as Fed Cup matches are called - was first announced, the team was supposed to include four-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, nine-time Slam champ Monica Seles, Meghann Shaughnessy and Lisa Raymond.

The FedEx Cup begins its fifth edition of its "playoff" series this week, signaling open season for critics of the PGA Tour's attempt to give its season a meaningful finish. The points system is too wonky. The four-event series is weighted too heavily. One could win two playoff events but not the FedEx Cup. It's all worth examining. But one can't say players don't take it seriously. Why else would Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and other top names have added their names to last week's stop in Greensboro?