Americans Defeat Russia

Despite a loss by top-ranked Pete Sampras, the United States beat Russia 2-1 at the World Team Cup with victories by Todd Martin and the doubles team at Duesseldorf, Germany.

Sampras, who has been bothered by back spasms, was beaten by Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-3, 6-2 in a match that lasted only 47 minutes.

But Martin fought off a match point to beat Russian Davis Cup veteran Andrei Chesnokov 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in the second singles match. Then Richey Reneberg and Jonathan Stark won the decisive doubles over Chesnokov and Alexander Volkov 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Nicole Arendt of the United States and Dutch player Manon Bollegraf capitalized on errors to upset top seeds Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6) to capture the World Doubles Cup title in Edinburgh, Scotland.

At Madrid, Spain, Jana Novotna outlasted Magdalena Maleeva 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to win the Madrid Open, the women’s final tuneup for the French Open.