TENNIS ROUNDUP : Spain Beats Australia for Federation Cup

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez ended Australia’s surprising run at Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday to give Spain its second Federation Cup title in three years.

In a lopsided final, the top-seeded Spanish team dominated the unseeded Australians, who were seeking their first title since 1974.

Martinez, ranked sixth in the world, beat Michelle Jaggard-Lai, 6-0, 6-2, before Sanchez Vicario, No. 3 in the world, defeated Nicole Provis, 6-2, 6-3.

The Spaniards then teamed to defeat Elizabeth Smylie and Rennae Stubbs, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Spain won its first title in 1991, defeating the United States in the final, and lost to Germany in last year’s final in Frankfurt.

“The title means a lot to me and it’s special to win it for the second time. I am very proud,” Sanchez Vicario said.

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Amos Mansdorf of Israel used a strong baseline game to stymie seventh-seeded Todd Martin, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, and win the championship of the $625,000 Newsweek Classic at Washington.

“It feels good,” said Mansdorf, an 11-year veteran. “It’s not the biggest win of my career, but it still feels great.”

After a week of cool and dry weather, the on-court temperature reached 101 degrees, which proved to be a problem for Martin.

“Today, the heat and humidity returned to Washington,” said Martin, “but I would’ve had a tough time beating him even if it had only been 50 degrees out there.”

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Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson overcame Michael Stich’s remarkable run of success in his home country, outlasting the German, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, to capture the Mercedes Cup at Stuttgart.

In the last eight months, Stich has reached the finals of five tournaments in Germany, winning three titles, including the Grand Slam Cup at Munich.