Seles Leads U.S. Sweep of Japan, Eyes Olympics

In a fitting Olympic tuneup, Monica Seles helped her adopted country sweep Japan in the Fed Cup semifinals.

“I can’t wait to be in Atlanta. I can’t wait until the opening ceremonies. It will be hot there, so that is my only worry,” said Seles, who routed Kimiko Date, 6-0, 6-2, on Sunday at Nagoya, Japan.

Seles, a Yugoslav native who became a U.S. citizen in 1994, led the United States into the Sept. 28-29 final against three-time defending champion Spain at a U.S. site to be determined. Spain defeated France, 3-2.

Also Sunday, Lindsay Davenport defeated Ai Sugiyama, 7-6 (10-8), 7-5, and combined with Linda Wild to defeat Sugiyama and Kyoko Nagatsuka, 6-2, 6-1.

Alberto Costa defeated Spanish compatriot Felix Mantilla, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1, 6-0, to win the Swiss Open at Gstaad, Switzerland. . . . Magnus Gustafsson defeated Andrei Medvedev of Ukraine, 6-1, 6-3, to win the Swedish Open at Bastad, Sweden. . . . Nicolas Pereira of Venezuela rallied to defeat Grant Stafford, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the final of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships at Newport, R.I. . . . Rosie Casals, who teamed with Martina Navratilova to win three doubles titles in the late 1980s, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Miscellany

The Libyan government declared Sunday a day of mourning for dozens of people killed or wounded in a riot at a soccer match last Friday at Tripoli, which pitted rivals Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, which is controlled by a son of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi.

Up to 50 people were killed or hurt during an altercation that began with fans running onto the field to challenge a call that favored Al-Ahli, which is controlled by Kadafi’s son Al-Saadi. Al-Saadi’s bodyguards opened fire and dozens of people were killed in the gunfire and a crush to get out of the area.

British racer Lee Pullan and a track official died in a crash during a 24-hour motorcycle race, the third leg of the 1996 world endurance championship at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. Officials said Pullan, riding on Kawasaki, struck Charles Lambert after Lambert ventured onto the track to remove a piece of a cycle that fallen. . . . New Orleans Saint defensive end Darren Mickell will sit out at least the first 10 days of training camp while he undergoes treatment for substance abuse, General Manager Bill Kuharich said. . . . Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for New York Jet linebacker Marvin Jones, confirmed that his client had been arrested Saturday and charged with reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, disorderly intoxication, drunken driving and assault on an officer. . . . Former San Antonio Spur guard Alvin Robertson was jailed after a woman told police that he broke into her apartment, choked her and bit her on the face. Robertson was arrested Saturday night on charges of assault and criminal trespassing. . . . Daniel Komen of Kenya shattered the world two-mile record by almost four seconds, clocking 8 minutes, 3.54 seconds at Lappeenranta, Finland.