U.S. Doesn’t Have Enough to Stop Russia in Fed Cup

The United States was without two of the best players in women’s tennis for the Fed Cup against Russia, and it showed.

The defending champion Russians completed a 4-1 semifinal victory Sunday at Moscow and will play for the title at France on Sept. 17-18. The French reached the final for the third consecutive year, defeating visiting Spain, 3-1, in Aix-En-Provence in a rain-shortened semifinal.

The Americans needed to scramble in their semifinal because of injuries to Australian Open champion Serena Williams and top-ranked Lindsay Davenport.

“It was a tough situation,” U.S. captain Zina Garrison said. “We knew it was going to be tough when we came in. And we tried to repair as much as we could, but we came up short.”

The United States has won the Fed Cup 17 times -- more than any other nation -- and has been runner-up nine times. Its last title came in 2000.

The Americans began the day down, 2-0, in the best-of-five competition on indoor clay at Olympic Stadium, and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams kept her team alive by downing Elena Dementieva, 6-1, 6-2, in reverse singles. Russia then clinched its spot in the final when Anastasia Myskina beat Jill Craybas, 6-2, 6-4.

In the inconsequential doubles match, Vera Douchevina and Dinara Safina beat Williams and Corina Morariu, 6-1, 7-5.

In France, Amelie Mauresmo provided the clinching victory, stopping Nuria Llagostera Vives, 6-3, 6-1, to make it 3-0. Spain’s Arantxa Parra Santonja then beat Severine Beltrame, 6-4, 6-4.

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French Open champion Rafael Nadal won his seventh title of the year, overcoming a sluggish start to beat Tomas Berdych, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the Swedish Open final at Bastad.

Only top-ranked Roger Federer, with eight titles, has won more tournaments in 2005. Nadal, seeded first and ranked third, has won 29 consecutive matches on clay.

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Greg Rusedski successfully defended his title in the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships at Newport, R.I., beating Vince Spadea, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4, on his seventh match point.

Rusedski, also the 1993 Hall of Fame champion, improved to 15-0 on Newport’s grass courts.

“I always enjoy playing here,” the 31-year-old Rusedski said. “For some reason, my luck always seems to end up good when I need it here in Newport.”

The final game lasted 22 points.

Spadea, 30, was looking for his second title after winning in Scottsdale, Ariz., last year.

Rusedski earned $52,000.

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Gaston Gaudio won the Swiss Open at Gstaad, defeating Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-4, 6-4, for his fourth title this year. Gaudio, seeded second, had lost the final of this tournament in 2002 and lost in the semifinals in 2000 and 2003.

Hockey

Negotiators for the NHL and the players’ association met into the early hours today to finish details of a new collective bargaining agreement, with all indications being that it would be completed in the next few days. However, the two sides are expected to announce little until the deal is ratified.

The NHL’s executive committee will meet today in New York to review what has been resolved and a Board of Governors meeting is targeted to take place next Monday for the league to approve the deal, with a vote of players to follow. It’s expected that the annual entry draft will be held in Ottawa within three weeks of the agreement’s ratification.

College Baseball

Longtime Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson was hired as coach at Oklahoma, succeeding Larry Cochell, who resigned last season after using a racial slur during off-camera interviews.

Stephenson, 59, who ranks second in NCAA Division I victories, returns to the program for which he was a recruiting coordinator and hitting instructor for five seasons in the 1970s.

He replaces former Oral Roberts coach Sunny Galloway, who took over as interim coach when Cochell resigned May 1.

Stephenson, who will appear at a news conference today, has a coaching record of 1,506-489-3, second in victories to Texas’ Augie Garrido (1,542).

“The hardest thing I’ve had to do my whole life is leave Wichita State,” said Stephenson, a native of Guthrie, Okla.

“I poured my heart and soul into that program for 28 years. I always said there was only one job I would even consider, and I mean anywhere, and that’s the University of Oklahoma.”

Football

Michigan State wide receiver Agim Shabaj will make himself eligible for the NFL’s supplemental draft after being declared academically ineligible for the 2005 college season.

Shabaj, who would be a senior this season, was the Spartans’ third-leading receiver in 2004 with 29 catches for 308 yards and one touchdown.

He was the team’s leading receiver in 2003 with 57 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns.

Under Big Ten Conference rules, academically ineligible athletes are not allowed to remain on scholarship.

Pro Basketball

The Memphis Grizzlies signed Lawrence Roberts to a two-year contract. Roberts was selected 55th overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA draft and was traded to Memphis for two second-round draft picks.

He was acquired by the Grizzlies from Seattle in exchange for two second-round draft picks and cash considerations.

Running

Ceci St. Gem, 42, of Newport Beach, ran away from the pack to win the women’s 5,000-meter title in 16 minutes 58 seconds at the 12th annual Keep L.A. Running Charity 5K/10K Run/Walk, and bike ride at Exposition Park.

Christian Hesch, 26, of San Luis Obispo, surged late in the race to win the men’s 5K title in 15:34.

The women’s 10K winner, Mary Akor, 28, of Gardena, finished in a course record 36:58. Men’s winner Justin Patananan, 25, of Palmdale, also came away with a course record, finishing in 30:29.