Tennis: Capriati capitulates in the first round

Jennifer Capriati was beaten in straight sets by her fellow American Chanda Rubin in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome yesterday. Capriati, who made her European professional debut at the same event in 1990, held three set points at 5-3 and 40-0, but then fell away badly, losing 7-6, 6-2.

Capriati is now ranked 28th in her latest comeback, but her inability to capitalise on promising positions was all too apparent here. Having secured her three set points she then lost the next eight points in succession. Rubin, ranked 29th, will face the defending champion and four-times winner of the event, Conchita Martinez of Spain, in the second round.

The top eight seeds had first-round byes. One seed fell in yesterday's action, with Belgium's Dominique Van Roost beating the No 15, Nathalie Tauziat of France, 6-7, 6-1, 6-2.

Martina Hingis has pulled out of next week's German Open in Berlin, missing a possible showdown with her predecessor as No 1 in the world, Steffi Graf, the organisers said yesterday. Hingis, the 16-year-old Swiss sensation, injured her knee in a riding accident and was also forced to miss Rexona Cup in Hamburg last week and this week's Italian Open in Rome. By failing to play in Berlin, Hingis will not have any match practice before the French Open, which starts on 26 May. Graf has not played since February because of a knee injury and is hoping to make her comeback in Berlin.

Britain's Federation Cup team beat Egypt 3-0 in their second Pool A match in Europe/Africa group two in Antalya, Turkey yesterday. It was Britain's second successive 3-0 win after beating Lithuania yesterday as they again overwhelmed their opponents.

Julie Pullin beat Yassmin Abdulla 6-1, 6-1 in the opening match, which was quickly followed by British No 1 Sam Smith defeating Mawa El Wany by the same score.

The doubles pairing of Clare Wood and Lorna Woodroffe then went one better as they lost just a single game to Abdulla and El Wany, winning 6-1, 6- 0.

Britain, top seeds in the six-strong pool, have to win all five matches this week if they are to gain promotion to Europe/Africa group one, with today's opponents Estonia likely to provide stronger opposition than Lithuania or Egypt.