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LONDON, April 29: The United States, the Fed Cup favourites, were dumped out in the first round by Austria Sunday at the climax of a controversial weekend which saw their number one player Jennifer Capriati thrown off the team.
The reigning Australian and French Open champion was ditched by captain Billie Jean King on Friday for flouting US team rules by refusing to cancel a private practice session with father and coach Stefano.
Schwartz continued her heroics Sunday, coming back from a set down to beat Capriati’s replacement Meghann Shaughnessy and complete one of the biggest shocks in Fed Cup history.
While the US contemplate what went wrong, the Austrians will next meet Croatia after they won the deciding doubles in Bol to defeat the Czech Republic 3-2.
Meanwhile, champions Belgium eased into the quarterfinals by recording a comfortable 3-1 victory over Australia. Last year’s beaten finalists Russia, however, were shocked by Germany.
Evergreen Barbara Rittner inspired the Germans to a 3-2 victory — the first time they have beaten Russia in the Fed Cup.
Germany will face Spain in the last eight after they earlier ousted Hungary.
Belgium will face Italy in the last eight after the Italians thrashed Sweden 5-0 in Milan.
Colllated results:
FIRST ROUND:
Italy beat Sweden 5-0 (Maria Elena Camerin/Roberta Vinci beat Sofia Arvidsson/Maria Wolfbrandt 1-6, 6-0, 6-4; Adriana Serra Zanetti beat Asa Carlsson-Svensson 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); Roberta Vinci beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-2; Antonella Serra Zanetti beat Asa Carlsson-Svensson 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 10-8; Adriana Serra Zanetti beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-1, 6-1).
Spain beat Hungary 4-1 (Virginia Ruano Pascual/Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario beat Zsofia Gubacsi/Aniko Kapros 7-5, 6-2; Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario beat Zsofia Gubacsi 6-0, 6-2; Magui Serna beat Rita Kuti Kis 6-3, 6-1; Angeles Montolio lost to Zsofia Gubacsi 3-6, 6-3, 2-6; Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario beat Rita Kuti Kis 6-4, 6-2).
Slovakia beat Switzerland 3-2 (Daniela Hantuchova/Janette Husarova beat Myriam Casanova/Patty Schnyder 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3; Daniela Hantuchova lost to Patty Schnyder 3-6, 3-6; Henrieta Nagyova lost to Myriam Casanova 6-3, 3-6, 1-6; Husarova beat Schnyder 7-6 (9-7), 5-7, 7-5; Hantuchova beat Casanova 6-4, 7-5).
Croatia beat Czech Republic 3-2 (Jelena Kostanic/Iva Majoli beat Iveta Benesova/Eva Birnerova 6-1, 6-2; Iva Majoli lost to Klara Koukalova 4-6, 1-6; Jelena Kostanic beat Iveta Benesova 6-2, 7-5; Kostanic beat Sandra Kleinova 7-6 (7-1), 6-4; Majoli lost to Benesova 4-6, 1-6).
Germany beat Russia 3-2 (Barbara Rittner/Marlene Weingartner beat Elena Dementieva/Anastasia Myskina 7-6 (7-1), 6-2; Barbara Rittner beat Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-1; Martina Mueller lost to Anastasia Myskina 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4), 9-11; Martina Mueller lost to Elena Dementieva 4-6, 2-6; Barbara Rittner beat Anastasia Myskina 7-5, 3-6, 7-5).
France beat Argentina 3-2 (Clarisa Fernandez/Maria Emilia Salerni beat Nathalie Dechy/Emilie Loit 6-3, 2-6, 6-2; Paola Suarez lost to Amelie Mauresmo 4-6, 3-6; Mariana Diaz-Oliva lost to Nathalie Dechy 2-6, 3-6; Mariana Diaz-Oliva lost to Amelie Mauresmo 5-7, 2-6; Paola Suarez beat Sandrine Testud 7-5, 6-4).
Belgium beat Australia 3-1 (Els Callens/Laurence Courtois v Nicole Pratt/Rennae Stubbs match abandoned due to rain; Els Callens lost to Nicole Pratt 2-6, 4-6; Justine Henin beat Alicia Molik 6-2, 6-1; Justine Henin beat Nicole Pratt 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; Kim Clijsters beat Alicia Molik 6-0, 6-2).
Austria beat US 3-2 (Meghann Shaughnessy lost to Barbara Schwartz 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 7-9; Monica Seles beat Evelyn Fauth (Aut) 6-3, 6-3; Seles/Lisa Raymond beat Marion Maruska/Fauth 6-1, 7-6 (7-4); Monica Seles lost to Barbara Schwartz 6-7 (7-9), 2-6; Jennifer Capriati lost to Evelyn Fauth — match forfeit.—Reuters
