U.S. Is Eliminated From Fed Cup

Kicking Jennifer Capriati off the Fed Cup team probably cost the United States a chance at the title and led to an embarrassing first-round defeat to Austria.

The Americans, winners of a record 17 titles, were eliminated Sunday when Barbara Schwartz upset Fed Cup rookie Meghann Shaughnessy, the fill-in at No. 1 singles following Capriati’s ouster for not agreeing to a team rule that prohibited her from practicing on her own.

“They were obviously the underdogs here and a lot of things went their way from the beginning with Capriati,” Shaughnessy said. “I’m disappointed it came to this, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have had four people here with the same goal in mind.”

Schwartz, ranked 75th in the world, followed Saturday’s victory over Monica Seles with a 4-6, 7-6 (7), 9-7 win over Shaughnessy to give Austria its clinching third win in the best-of-five match.

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Andy Roddick outslugged Pete Sampras to defend his title in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship at Houston, rolling to a 7-6 (9), 6-3 victory.

The 19-year-old Roddick had 13 aces to 12 for Sampras, who was trying to win a tournament for the first time since his seventh Wimbledon title in 2000.

Later, Roddick teamed with Mardy Fish to beat Jan-Michael Gambill and Graydon Oliver, 6-4, 6-4, for the doubles title. Roddick is the only player on the tour this year to win singles and doubles titles in the same tournament.