ASUNCION, PARAGUAY : Mexico's Claudio Suarez (left) battles for the ball with Chile's Ivan Zamorano, during their third place game of the America's Cup tournament at Defensores del Chaso stadium in Asuncion, Saturday — AP/PTI

Mexico beat Chile, finish third ASUNCION (Paraguay), July 18 — Mexico ended a turbulent Copa America on an upbeat note with a 2-1 victory over Chile last night to take third place in the South American championship. Nash warms up for Lord’s Test CANTERBURY (England), July 18 — Dion Nash warmed up for the Lord’s Test next week in style for New Zealand’s tourists against Kent here yesterday.

Ngeny falls short of Coe’s world mark
NICE, France, July 18 — Kenya’s Noah Ngeny today ran the second-fastest 1,000 metres ever at the Nikaia athletics meeting as Sebastian Coe’s world record narrowly withstood another challenge.

Headley, Gough in England team
LONDON, July 18 — England selectors elevated Dean Headley to the 12-man squad but opted against calling in Darren Gough and Mike Atherton for the second Test against New Zealand starting a Thursday at Lord’s.

New York to host circle kabaddi meet
CHANDIGARH, July 18 — The first International Circle Kabbadi Championship will be held in New York (USA) in the month of September.

AFC should ‘hand back’ Cup
ASUNCION, July 18 — The president of the South American Football Confederation Comnebol, Mr Nicolas Leoz, on Friday told the Asian body AFC to hand back the 2002 World Cup because of the row with the world governing body FIFA about their allocation of qualifying berths.

S. America rules out ceding berth
ASUNCION (Paraguay), July 18 — The South American soccer confederation has ruled out any chance of ceding a berth in the 2002 World Cup to Asia.

Unheralded Israeli upsets Chang
APTOS (California), July 18 — Michael Chang, formerly ranked No. 2 on the ATP Tour, was stunned by 241st-ranked Harel Levy, 6-4, 6-3 yesterday at the $ 50,000 Safeway Challenger.

Davis Cup

USA win doubles, keep hopes alive

BROOKLINE (Massachusetts), July 18 (Reuters) — The USA stayed alive in their Davis Cup quarter-final tie against Australia by winning a pressure-packed, five-set doubles match to draw within 2-1 in the best-of-five competition.

Pete Sampras teamed up with Alex O’Brien yesterday to defeat Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in a three-hour, 29-minute struggle that soared to a brilliant crescendo in the last set on another sweltering day at the Longwood Cricket Club.

Afterwards, US captain Tom Gullikson said there was a possibility he might put Sampras in the lineup for today’s reverse singles. Davis Cup rules dictate that a change in the lineup can only be made due to injury.

“It’s a possibility,” said Gullikson, who said Todd Martin would be examined by a team doctor and then by a neutral doctor if he was found to be unfit to play today.

Martin, who has climbed to number eight in the world this season, has battled a variety of injuries this year but showed no effects of injury on Friday in losing to 18-year-old Davis Cup Rookie Lleyton Hewitt. Martin is scheduled to play Patrick Rafter today.

The Americans, on the brink of elimination after being swept in Friday’s opening singles, dominated the first two sets before Australia clawed way back by winning the next two in the centennial celebration tie before a boisterous crowd of 5,342 ringing the Longwood Stadium court.

A thermometer lying on the side of the hardcourt registered a sizzling 129 degrees F (54 C) yesterday and both teams had to be admired for the all-out effort and quality tennis they produced.

Late in the fifth set, the duos were flailing away at each other like heavyweights needing a knockout to win.

The US team finally landed the decisive blow in a fiercely fought eighth game, which went to four deuces and finished with the Americans breaking Woodforde’s serve on their fourth break point.

“I think we had some tennis in the last half hour as good as you’ll ever see,” said Australian captain John Newcombe, who has seen and contributed his share of brilliance on the Davis Cup and Grand Slam scenes.

“This is as good as you’re going to get as a sporting spectacle.”

Woodforde double-faulted, his third of the game, to give the Americans the break point they at last converted. A lob from O’Brien sent stolle racing back and his desperate backhand swipe at it sailed long to give the Americans a 5-3 lead.

Sampras served out the match, but not before some more dramatics. He broke a string on a serve and then promptly mis-hit a forehand to give Australia a break point in the last game.

But Sampras, the world’s top-ranked player six years in a row, smashed an overhand winner and then a service winner to reach match point. Woodforde’s backhand return of serve sailed long to end the match.

France lead 2-1

PAU (France), (AFP): Fabrice Santoro and Olivier Delaitre scored a key doubles victory yesterday to give France a 2-1 lead over Brazil in their Davis Cup world group quarter-final here.

Santoro and Delaitre beat Gustavo Kuerten and Jaime Oncins 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 in 2 hours 10 minutes.

Slovakia draw level

MOSCOW: Karol Kucera crushed former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to pull Slovakia level with Russia at 2-2 in their Davis Cup world group quarter-final today.

The lacklustre Russian, who occupied the world’s top spot just over a month ago, held his serve only six times.

Kucera defeated the Australian Open champion in less than two hours after Kafelnikov put a forehand long on match point.

Kafelnikov was also yesterday losing doubles side when he and Andrei Olkhovsky were beaten in straight sets by Kucera and Dominik Hrbaty, allowing Slovakia to get back into the three-day tie after they had lost both the opening singles.

Hrbaty was due to play Marat Safin in Sunday’s deciding singles.

Davis Cup completes 100 years

BROOKLINE, July 18 (AFP) — Returning to its birthplace to celebrate its 100th-year, the Davis Cup paid tributes to a century of global tennis competition at weekend ceremonies here.

The Longwood Cricket Club, where tournament founder Dwight Davis and two Harvard University classmates led the USA past Britain 3-0 in the 1900 inaugural tie, hosted the US-Australia quarter-final tie.

“It’s very special,” Australian captain John Newcombe said. “I know a lot of the ghosts of the past are up there looking down on us.”

Davis spent 750 dollars in 1899 to mint a silver bowl trophy and start a US-British team tennis event based on the America’s Cup yachting model. Now the Davis Cup has expanded to 129 nations and sparks global passion.

“I sometimes feel the Davis Cup is a better experience than the Grand Slams,” said US singles player Todd Martin.

“Winning and losing, and the emotions that come from those results, are a bit more extreme in Davis Cup. When you win, you feel great, as good as you can feel. But when you lose it rips at your heart a bit.”

Davis, a college champion who also led the US to victory in 1902, died in 1945 at age 66. His great-grandson Chris, a Harvard student, attended pre-match ceremonies with several past Davis Cup players.

“In 1900, I’m sure he had no idea what he was starting,” US captain Tom Gullikson said. “It’s a fantastic idea that spawned into something that’s much bigger than he ever realised. This 100th-year celebration is really honouring his legacy.”

Looking out over the historic suburban Boston grounds, Newcombe pondered the homecoming, history and heritage evoked by the scene.

“This is where it all began 100 years ago,” he said. “There were a bunch of guys battling it out 100 years ago and here we are with another bunch of guys battling it out.”

“I think people will begin to understand the history of this now.”

Newcombe knows the history well. Australia teams have won the trophy 26 times, second only to the 31 of the US team.

And during World War II, the Davis Cup was kept locked in a bank vault in Melbourne. The Aussies had won the Cup in 1939 before competition was halted until 1946 during the war.

“Davis Cup quite often goes beyond the question of tennis. It goes down to what’s inside someone,” Newcombe said.

“The Davis Cup is one of the great trophies in the world for any sport. To look at it and realise your name is down there and you are part of a 100-year history is pretty special. The guys want that very badly.”

Players next target, says ex-PCB chief

KARACHI, July 18 (Reuters) — The ousted head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expects the country’s leading players to be the next target in a campaign to find a scapegoat for the World Cup final thrashing last month.

Ex-PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood also said yesterday that he was surprised at the sudden suspension of the board by Pakistan’s President Rafiq Tarar last night.

“The feeling in Islamabad is that the final was a no-game. Logically, if the top hierarchy believes that the match was deliberately thrown, then the players should be the next target,’’ Mahmood told Reuters from Lahore.

“My perception is that the board has been suspended because of match-fixing allegations which are not only unproven but false and baseless.

“I now think it will be the main issue in days to come and some of the frontline players might be made scapegoats to justify the sacking of the board,’’ Mahmood said.

Tarar’s suspension of the PCB — he has appointed an ad hoc committee headed by Mujibur Rehman in its place — comes a month after Pakistan lost the World Cup final to Australia at the Lord’s by eight wickets.

Pakistan were skittled for 132 and Australia knocked off the runs in 20.1 overs in the most one-sided final in the 24-year history of the competition.

It led to accusations of match-fixing by Pakistan fans and local media.

Mahmood said: “The chief of the Ehtesab Bureau (accountability bureau) has been levelling accusations against the players. Now his brother is the chairman of the ad hoc committee.’’

Mujibur Rehman is the younger brother of Saifur Rehman, chief of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s accountability bureau which is already looking into allegations that Pakistan deliberately lost the final.

“It should not be difficult to make two and two (equal) four,’’ said Mahmood, who had 17 months left in his term.

The suspension has thrown Pakistani cricket, already reeling from the overwhelming World Cup final defeat and allegations of corruption, into disarray.

Pakistan’s cricketers are awaiting a report of an official inquiry into match-fixing allegations. No date has been set for the release of the much-delayed report.

Headley, Gough in England team

LONDON, July 18 (AP) — England selectors elevated Dean Headley to the 12-man squad but opted against calling in Darren Gough and Mike Atherton for the second Test against New Zealand starting a Thursday at Lord’s.

Headley was favoured to Chris Silverwood, who was 12th man during England’s seven-wicket win over the Kiwis in the series opener at Edgbaston last month.

Gough was ruled out of the first Test due to calf muscle injury but returned for Yorkshire last week, taking four wickets in his first innings against Warwickshire.

And Atherton, who pulled out of England’s World Cup squad due to a recurring back injury and was ordered to get fit and come back through the county circuit, blazed an unbeaten 268 for Lancashire against Glamorgan.

But neither player was considered for the upcoming Test, with England selectors having the unusual luxury of a series lead to allow them both to return to full fitness.

Gough, the pace spearhead, is expected to return to the starting lineup for the third Test at Old Trafford.

Former skipper Alec Stewart, who lost the national captaincy to Nasser Hussain after England’s disastrous World Cup campaign, was retained as an opening batsman despite scoring 1 and 0 in the first Test.

Stewart, who also relinquished the wicketkeeping gloves to rookie Chris Read, is expected to open the batting with Mark Butcher.

New Zealand, World Cup semifinalist, were playing Kent in a tour match today. The Kiwis have injury concerns, with key bowler Simon Doull providing the most concern for selectors.

England squad: Nasser Hussain, Mark Butcher, Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash, Aftab Habib, Chris Read, Alex Tudor, Andy Caddick, Alan Mullally, Phil Tufnell and Dean Headley.

Nash warms up for Lord’s Test

CANTERBURY (England), July 18 (AFP) — Dion Nash warmed up for the Lord’s Test next week in style for New Zealand’s tourists against Kent here yesterday.

Nash struck an unbeaten 66 as New Zealand amassed 591 — a lead of 390 — their highest total in England and the second biggest by a touring team at the Kent HQ since the 676 of Warwick Armstrong’s Australians in 1921.

Nash struck the ball cleanly and with authority during a stand of 105 with Chris Cairns in 24 overs.

However, Nash was less impressive with the ball as Kent reached 145 for two, with Ed Smith (74 in 157 balls) unbeaten at the close.

Nash had to hold something in reserve with regular new ball exponent Simon Doull looking extremely doubtful for Lord’s after undergoing micro-surgery on his right knee on Tuesday.

And Doull’s opening partner Geoff Allott, too, has a fitness problem, having to leave the field with a groin strain.

New Zealand, resumed at 423 for four, lost Roger Twose for 73 when promising off spinner Darren Scott found the edge, though the left hander was clearly not convinced that he had made contact.

Earlier, Craig McMillan was taken low down at second slip by Andrew Symonds with only five added, and Adam Parore shouldered arms and lost his off stump to Mark Ealham.

Cairns struck five fours in a 72-ball 43 before aiming to hit Scott out of sight and was bowled.

Kent lost Robert Key with 58 scored, leg before to Cairns, David Fulton departed to a gully catch by Matthew Horne off left arm spinner Daniel Vettori who is likely to be a crucial figure on the final day.

Brief scores:

Kent 201 (E Smith 72, C Cairns 7-46) 145-2 (E Smith 74 no) v New Zealand 591 (M Horne 172, N Astle 121, R Twose 73, D Nash 66 no, D Scott 4-151).

Ngeny falls short of Coe’s world mark

NICE, France, July 18 (Reuters) — Kenya’s Noah Ngeny today ran the second-fastest 1,000 metres ever at the Nikaia athletics meeting as Sebastian Coe’s world record narrowly withstood another challenge.

In still, calm conditions, Ngeny roared round the track in the French riviera twilight in two minutes 12.66 seconds, just short of Coe’s time of 2:12.18 set 18 years ago in OSLO and the oldest individual record in the athletics record books.

The 20-year-old Kenyan, who has run the three fastest 1,500 metres this season and pushed Morocco’s Hicham el Guerrouj to the mile world record two weeks ago in Rome, was paced by compatriot David Kiptoo through much of the race, powering to the front with 200 metres to go.

But Ngeny timed his move a little late, falling just short of Coe’s mark but moving ahead of another Briton, Steve Cram, in the all-time rankings.

Algeria’s Noureddine Morceli, Olympic 1,500 metres champion and 2,000 metres world record holder, was also expected to challenge the mark but the former world record holder in the 1,500, mile and 3,000 failed to appear on the start line.

Olympic 800 and 1,500 gold medallist Svetlana Masterkova of Russia attempted to break her own record in the women’s 1,000 metres but fell more than two seconds short, clocking 2:32.18 despite being pushed by Mozambique’s Maria Mutola.

Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, running one of last 3,000 metres of his remarkable career, easily won his race in 7:30.58.

But the 5,000 and 10,000 world record holder, competing for the first time in Nice, failed in his bid to reclaim the 3,000 metres record from Kenya’s Daniel Komen, who ran 7:20.67 in 1996.

The meeting got off to a blistering start, with Ionela Tirlea of Romania recording the second-best time this season in the 400 metres hurdles, clocking 53.44 to edge out world champion Nezha Bidouane of Morocco (53.48).

But the heavy, humid conditions on the French riviera proved to be less than ideal for the sprinters.

Ghana’s Leonard Myles-Mills won the men’s 100 metres in an ordinary 10.12, Britain’s Mark Richardson the men’s 400 in a pedestrian 44.98 and Sevatheda Fynes of Bahamas took the women’s 200 in an unspectacular 22.32.

Watching Fynes from the stands was French double Olympic champion Marie-Jose Perec, who is expected to make her return to competition after a two-year absence on Wednesday at the golden league meeting in Paris.

Organisers had left a lane open in the 200 on the chance that Perec, who has been battling chronic fatigue syndrome, might want to bring her comeback forward.

“I’d rather have been on the track than watching,” Perec said. “One day things are going great and the next day it’s a black hole. I just keep hoping and persevering.”

The oppressive heat even affected the Kenyans who normally flourish in such conditions, Paul Kosgei winning the 3,000 metres steeplechase in a slow 8:09.46.

Romania’s Violeta Szekely romped to a season’s best time in the women’s mile, pipping Olympic 1,500 champion Carla Sacramento of Portugal, but her time of 4:23.44 was still well off Masterkova’s world record 4:12.56.

Mexico beat Chile, finish third

ASUNCION (Paraguay), July 18 (AP) — Mexico ended a turbulent Copa America on an upbeat note with a 2-1 victory over Chile last night to take third place in the South American championship.

A brilliant individual effort by Luis Hernandez set up a goal by Miguel Zepeda with three minutes left to snap a 1-1 tie and give Mexico its second straight third-place finish in the world’s oldest tournament for national teams.

Mexico weathered a doping scandal and the suspension of two starters to cement its reputation as a first-line power in Latin American soccer.

“I’m extremely satisfied with what we did,” Mexican coach Miguel Lapuente said. “We don’t want to look for any excuse. The problems we had, we had.”

Mexico has reached the semifinals in three of its four appearances in Copa America. The team defeated Chile, Peru and Venezuela before falling to Brazil.

For Chile, the loss caps a frustrating Cup that may have been the last appearance of its famed “SaZa” attack.

Striker Ivan “Bam Bam” Zamorano announced earlier that the game against Mexico might be his last with the Chilean jersey. Marcelo Salas, the “Sa” half of the duo, strained a leg muscle in practice and didn’t face Mexico.

Chile had expected to reach the final after a superb 3-2 victory over heavily favoured Colombia in the quarterfinals. But the “SaZa” line faltered against Uruguay, Salas missed a penalty kick and Chile lost on penalties.

The game was surprisingly hard-fought for a consolation match, with both teams pressing the attack, although the upbeat Mexican squad contrasted with the dispirited Chileans.

Chile had an early edge, with Fabian Estay missing high on a free kick and Zamorano firing on a breakaway that nicked the post.

Slowly, Mexico found the gaps in the Chilean defence. Hernandez tested Chilean goalkeeper Marcelo “Rambo” Ramirez with a point-blank header, and minutes later it was Francisco Palencia who was denied by Ramirez.

In the 25th minute, Hernandez fired from the left side and Ramirez couldn’t hold on. The rebound went out to Palencia, who tapped it in for a 1-0 lead.

Hernandez nearly scored on another header just before the half, but Ramirez got a hand on it and the ball bounced off the crossbar. Hernandez congratulated the keeper for the save.

In the 80th minute, Chile got the equaliser when Raul Palacios stole the ball, worked a give-and-go with Jose Luis Sierra and eluded goalkeeper Jorge Campos to score.

Seven minutes later, Zepeda got the winner.

New York to host circle kabaddi meet
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 18 — The first International Circle Kabaddi Championship will be held in New York (USA) in the month of September.

Teams from India, Pakistan, England, Canada and the USA are expected to take part in this first major international event.

Giving this information to The Tribune, Mr Pritam Singh Narangpur, president of the Saint Prem Singh India Overseas Sports and Cultural Association, who was in Chandigarh on Sunday, said he had specially come to India to get the Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation of India's confirmation. He said the federation's general secretary, Mr J.P. Sharma, had given him an assurance that India as well as Pakistan would take part. Mr Sardara Singh, technical adviser of the federation, would also accompany the Indian team.

In November the Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation of India would organise the first World Circle Kabbadi Cup. Mr Narangpur said the US circle kabbadi team would take part in the World Kabaddi Cup.

Since 1991 Mr Saranpur's organisation has been organising the Baba Makhan Singh Lubana Memorial Tournament at Beguwal village in Kapurthala district.

Having been a good circle kabaddi player in his school and college days, Mr Sarangpur has promised to help in the promotion of this game.

AFC should ‘hand back’ Cup

ASUNCION, July 18 (DPA) — The president of the South American Football Confederation Comnebol, Mr Nicolas Leoz, on Friday told the Asian body AFC to hand back the 2002 World Cup because of the row with the world governing body FIFA about their allocation of qualifying berths.

“As far as I know they want to or already have withdrawn from all FIFA commissions. I ask myself shouldn’t they also then not hand back the World Cup,” Mr Leoz told Deutsche Presse-Agentur at the Copa America in Paraguay.

The 2002 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Japan and South Korea.

“If they have problems with FIFA they might as well leave it (the World Cup) and hand over the organisation to England or Germany, who are as interested in hosting a World Cup as Brazil and South Africa,” Mr Leoz added.

The row originated last week when the AFC walked out of the FIFA congress in Los Angeles in protest of being allocated only two qualifying berths for 41 teams besides the automatically qualified host nations for the 32-team tournament in 2002. They threatened a qualifying boycott if their demand was not met.

The FIFA said earlier in the week they had no plans to strip Japan and South Korea of the World Cup, which for the first time takes place in Asia.

The AFC insist they want a total of five berths and have rejected a compromise from the European body UEFA who offered them a playoff between a European and Asian team for four and a half berths. Asia had three and a half berths at the 1998 edition.

Instead, the Asian insisted they should get one berth from Comnebol because that federation had 4.5 and only represented 10 countries. But Mr Leoz said Comnebol had already compromised because it initially wanted five sports.

“And now the Asians come and want another berth. The Europeans were generous and gave them half a berth. But that is not enough for them,” Mr Leoz said.

Mr Leoz said the Asians should accept the European offer and make compromises like UEFA and Comnebol. He also joined the chorus of critics who said the walkout from the congress did not help their cause.

“I believe they made a mistake. There behaviour at the congress was not very good,” Mr Leoz said.

Ranatunga to join politics

COLOMBO, July 18 (PTI) — With his international cricketing career tottering at the brink, Sri Lanka’s axed skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has announced his intention to join politics once his playing days are over.

Ranatunga has, however, not decided which party to support, although his father Reggie Ranatunga is a Deputy Minister in the government.

“Right now my interest is in cricket. But after my retirement I might enter the political arena. After all, my father and brother (Prassana Ranatunga) are politicians. And my father’s blood runs in me too,” Ranatunga has told the “Sunday Leader” paper in an interview.

The 35-year-old, whose playing career looks set to end in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s abysmal performance at the recent World Cup in England, however, said it was too early for him to decide which party to join though his family has traditionally supported the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is the main constituent of President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s ruling front.

S. America rules out ceding berth

ASUNCION (Paraguay), July 18 (AP) — The South American soccer confederation has ruled out any chance of ceding a berth in the 2002 World Cup to Asia.

“South America has absolutely nothing to discuss,” CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay said yesterday. “This is an acquired right and it’s already signed and sealed.”

Leoz said South American countries would begin the qualifying games for the next World Cup in March under allocations for the 2002 World Cup announced in December, which gave 4 1-2 berths to the continent.

Asian Football Confederation officials have argued that South America has too many and should give up a half berth to them. The 2002 World Cup will be held in Japan and South Korea.

“What the Asians request is their affair,” Leoz said. “Asia withdrew from the (FIFA) Congress. There are rules to be respected that they don’t respect.

“Our position is firm, irreversible, and there is no reason to think that things will change.”

The AFC has been demanding since early this year that FIFA grant it an extra berth in the 2002 World Cup above and beyond the four berths initially allocated to it, or Asian nations would boycott the tournament.

AFC general secretary Peter Velappan modified that position by saying a half berth would be sufficient. Last week, responding to a plea from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA granted the request, offering to send its 14th and last-placed team in Europe to a playoff with a team from Asia for the final berth in the 32-team field.

But last week the AFC executive committee reiterated its demand for a full berth and the entire Asian delegation walked out en masse during the FIFA extraordinary Congress in Los Angeles in protest.

Velappan said the AFC felt South America should give up it’s half berth, meaning Oceania — which is to play fifth-placed team in South American qualifying for a place in the 2002 finals — would instead play the European team that UEFA is offering.

Leoz, a member of the FIFA executive committee which approved the initial allocations, was quoted in press reports this week that if the AFC is upset about the berths, it should withdraw as host of the finals as well.

The AFC has said Japan and South Korea, the co-hosts for the 2002 World Cup — the first to be held in Asia, would be exempt from the boycott, and that it “fully endorsed” their organisation of the event.

Unheralded Israeli upsets Chang

APTOS (California), July 18 — (AP) Michael Chang, formerly ranked No. 2 on the ATP Tour, was stunned by 241st-ranked Harel Levy, 6-4, 6-3 yesterday at the $ 50,000 Safeway Challenger.

Chang was playing in his first tournament since the French Open nine weeks ago, where he lost in the first round to Yevgeny Kafelnikov. He then missed Wimbledon and its associated warm-up tournaments with a minor back strain.

Levy, a 20-year-old who still serves in the Israeli Army when he’s not touring, broke Chang in the opening game of the match. He used a strong serve and powerful groundstrokes to put first set away, then broke Chang for a 4-3 lead in second.

Levy broke Chang again in the final game as Chang dumped a forehand into the net on match point.

Currently ranked No. 59, Chang entered the event to get a jump on the North American summer hardcourt season, which culminates with the US Open in late August.

“Obviously, this is very difficult for me,” Chang said after the defeat, which came at the first Challenger-level event he’s played since 1987.

Levy will take on Australian Michael Hill in tonight’s final. Hill defeated No. 4 seed Laurence Tieleman, who retired with a pulled thigh muscle with Hill leading 6-4, 6-7 (7-2), 1-0.

Hill was also the beneficiary of Cecil Mamiit’s third-set retirement in the second round. Mamiit was the No. 2 seed and defending singles champion of the USTA-sanctioned event.

MHWAH (New Jersey): During a week which the A and P Tennis Classic lost one big-name player after another, Jennifer Capriati kept some interest alive in the exhibition event on Saturday by advancing to the final.

Capriati, slowly reviving a troubled career, won 11 of the final 14 games and defeated unheralded American Erika de Lone 7-5, 6-2 in the semi-final.

Chanda Rubin, like Capriati, a two-time winner of this event, also got a chance for a third title by defeating South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the second semifinal on a hot, hazy day when the courtside temperature reached 43 degrees celsius.

Rubin had to be treated for dehydration after the match.

The final is a far cry from what tournament organisers expected. The event lost Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic, last year’s Wimbledon winner, to an ankle injury on Tuesday.

Superstar Steffi Graf from Germany dropped out Thursday after getting sick in the third set against Capriati, and Coetzer eliminated fan favourite Anna Kournikova of Russia on Friday.

If de Lone, ranked 126th by the WTA tour, had surprised Capriati, it might have made everyone lose interest. As it was, the stands at the Sheraton Crossroads that had been packed for previous sessions were only a third full yesterday.

“It should be an exciting match since we both aren’t afraid to hit the ball,” said Coetzer, who squandered a 4-1 lead in the second set.

Capriati, who won here in 1991 and ’93 and lost in final in ’90 and ’92, gave them what they wanted to see by rallying.

Cricket tourney results

CHAMBA, July 18 (FOC) — Thunder Bolt beat Danger Zone by 8 wickets in one-sided match in Minjar Fair Cricket Tournament.

Danger Zone won the toss and elected to bat. But they were in trouble right from the beginning when they lost four early wickets. They were all out for 85 runs.

In reply, Thunder Bolt reached the target by losing two wickets. Manuj Sharma former state junior player scored brilliant 50 not out with 10 fours.

Score:

Danger Zone 85 all out in 20 overs. Brij Bhushan 20; Narinder 2 for three; Harind 2 for 15, Kameshwar one for 15, Bhupinder 1 for 15, Zahoor 1 for 10.

Thunder Bolt: 87 for 2 in 10 overs. Manuj Sharma 50 not out, Rajeev 2 for 15.

In other matches, RCC beat Rajnagar by 70 runs, while Jai Jawan beat Baror Eleven by 5 wickets.