TENNIS ROUNDUP : Australia, Spain Reach Federation Cup Final

Elizabeth Smylie remembers what it’s like being in the final of the Federation Cup. She has a good memory.

Nine years ago, in 1984, Smylie last played, and lost, in a Federation Cup final. Now, she has another chance at capturing the women’s team competition after teaming with Rennae Stubbs for a decisive doubles victory over Argentina that put Australia in today’s final against Spain at Frankfurt, Germany.

The top-seeded Spanish team, looking to repeat its 1991 victory in the women’s version of the Davis Cup, won both singles matches against sixth-seeded France before retiring in the doubles to take their best-of-three semifinal series, 2-1.

Australia last reached the final in 1984, losing to Czechoslovakia, with its current non-playing team captain Wendy Turnbull and Smylie dropping the decisive doubles.

Stubbs and Smylie, 30, who was known as Sayers in 1984, on Saturday defeated Ines Gorrochategui and Patricia Tarabini, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to give Australia its a 2-1 victory over Argentina.

Argentina and Australia, both unseeded, split the singles. Gorrochategui beat Michelle Jaggard-Lai, 6-4, 6-2, but Nicole Provis evened the score by rallying for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Florencia Labat.

“It just proves that you don’t have to have No. 1 or No. 2 in the world to get to the final,” Provis said. “We got this far on our determination.”

Spain’s Conchita Martinez, ranked sixth in the world, outlasted Julie Halard, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, in an error-filled match, then Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, No. 3 in the world, stopped Nathalie Tauziat, 6-1, 6-4, to clinch the Spanish victory.

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Amos Mansdorf of Israel recovered from a shaky start to defeat Richey Reneberg, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, and move into the finals of the Newsweek Classic at Washington.

Mansdorf, an 11-year veteran whose last victory on the IBM-ATP Tour came in 1990 at Philadelphia, will meet seventh-seeded Todd Martin today for the championship and $84,000 first prize.

Martin defeated unseeded Aaron Krickstein, 6-3, 7-5.

“I think the third set was the best set of the match for me,” said Mansdorf, who has never lost to Reneberg in five meetings.

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Michael Stich’s big serve was missing, but the German still managed to oust defending champion Andrei Medvedev, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the final of the Mercedes Cup at Stuttgart, Germany.

Stich will face Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson, who spoiled an all-German final by eliminating Stich’s Davis Cup teammate, Marc Goellner, 6-4, 6-3.