Sporting Digest: Tennis

THE first step was taken yesterday to separate the running of the British professional game from the grass roots administration of the clubs and counties. Council members of the Lawn Tennis Association approved a reconstruction plan for three new divisions of management: international and professonal tennis, national tennis facilities, and national tennis development. The three new divisions could be operational by January.

THE United States captain, Tom Gullikson, named Pete Sampras, the world No 1, and Jim Courier to play the singles in the Davis Cup quarter-finals against the Netherlands on a hard court in Rotterdam in July. He will decide later on the doubles team. The Netherlands last month named Richard Krajicek, Jan Siemerink and the world champion doubles pair of Paul Haarhuis and Jacco Eltingh for the tie.

ITALIAN WOMEN'S OPEN (Rome) Third round: A Serra-Zanetti (It) bt B Schultz (Neth) 6-2 6-1; N Sawamatsu (Japan) bt A Grossman (US) 6-3 6-3; N Tauziat (Fr) bt S Cecchini (It) 6-4 6-2; J Wiesner (Aut) bt R Zrubakova (Slov) 3-6 6-4 6-3; I Spirlea (Rom) bt J Kruger (SA) 4-6 6-3 6-1; N Tauziat (Fr) bt S Cecchini (It) 6-4 6-2; J Wiesner (Aut) bt R Zrubakova (Slovak) 3-6 6-4 6-3; I Spirlea (Rom) bt J Kruger (SA) 4-6 6-3 6-1; M Navratilova (US) bt I Gorrochategui (Arg)

6-2 3-6 6-4; C Martinez (Sp) bt P Tarabini (Arg) 6 -1 6-1.

GERMAN MEN'S OPEN (Hamburg) Second round: J Sanchez (Sp) bt S Pescosolido (It) 6-3 4-6 6-3; A Corretja (Sp) bt B Becker (Ger) 6-1 5-7 7-5; C Costa (Sp) beat S Dosedel (Cz Rep) 7-5 6-4; J Eltingh (Neth) bt M Larsson (Swe) 7-6 7-5. M Stich (Ger) bt E Sanchez (Sp) 6-7 6-3 6-4; H Leconte (Fr) bt P Kuhnen (Ger) 6-3 6-2; Y Kafelnikov (Rus) bt G Ivanisevic (Croa) 7-6 6-0; T Muster (Aut) bt J Renzenbrink (Ger) 3-6 6-3 6-3; J Yzaga (Peru) bt S Edberg (Swe) 6-4 7-5. Third round: A Medvedev (Ukr) bt P Haarhuis (Neth) 2-6 6-2 6-2; Stich bt A Chesnokov (Russ) 6-0 6-4; Kafelnikov bt K Braasch (Germany) 6-3 6-2; R Krajicek (Neth) bt Muster 6-4 6-4; M Gustafsson (Swe) bt Leconte 7-5 5-7 6-4; J Eltingh (Neth) bt Yzaga 2-6 7-5 6-3; C Costa (Sp) bt Corretja 6-2 6-0; J Sanchez (Sp) bt P Korda (Cz Rep) 7-6 6-4.

MEN'S ATP CHALLENGER (Manila) Second round: T Henman (GB) bt R Angelo (Phill) 6-1 6-1.

USTA CLAY COURT CLASSIC (Pinehurst, N Carol) Second round: M Wilander (Swe) bt M Filippini (Uru) 6-1 1-6 6-3; M Woodforde (Aus) bt L Mattar (Bra) 6-1 6-1; J Palmer (US) bt M Washington (US) 6-2 6-1; V Spadea (US) bt B Shelton (US) 7-6 6-4; T Martin (US) bt C Bergstrom (Swe) 6-1 6-1; F Davin (Arg) bt R Reneberg (US) 4-6 6-1 6-4; F Santoro (Fr) bt J Morgan (Aus) 2-6 6-3 7-6; F Clavet (Sp) bt J Hlasek (Swit) 6-2 6-2.

LTA SPRING SATELLITE TOURNAMENT (Lee-on-Solent) Men's first round: S Manai (Fr) bt C Wilkinson (GB) 7-6 6-4; D Sapsford (GB) bt J Hunter (GB) 7-5 6-3. Women's second round: K Bakalarova (Cz Rep) bt R Mawdsley (Aus) 6-0 6-1.