U.S. Assured Fed Cup Win

Monica Seles, co-ranked No. 1 player in the world, beat No. 9 Kimiko Date 6-0, 6-2 today, giving the United States a 3-0 victory in its Fed Cup semifinal series against Japan.

In singles matches played on Saturday, Seles trounced the world’s No. 24 player, Ai Sugiyama, 6-2, 6-2, while 10th-ranked Lindsay Davenport routed Date 6-2, 6-1.

At Gstaad, Switzerland, Alberto Costa beat top-seeded defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Swiss Open and will play fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla for the title. Mantilla beat Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3.

At Bastad, Sweden, Stefan Edberg’s hopes of winning the Swedish Open ended in disappointment when he was beaten by fellow Swede Magnus Gustafsson in the semifinals 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Gustafsson will face Andrei Medvedev of the Ukraine in today’s final, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Carlos Costa of Spain.

The remnants of Hurricane Bertha forced the postponement of the semifinal matches in the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I. The matches were rescheduled for this morning, with the final to be played in the afternoon. In between, the Hall of Fame will induct Rosie Casals and late British commentator Dan Maskell.