
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 24, 1993                   TAG: 9304240194
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TOP U.S. PLAYERS ELECT TO BYPASS FEDERATION CUP

Putting together a high-profile tennis team to represent the United States in international competition is no easy task these days.

First, the top men's players like Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang passed up the Davis Cup and their replacements were eliminated by Australia in the first round last month. Now, the marquee women are unavailable for this summer's Federation Cup.

The United States Tennis Association chose Pam Shriver, Lori McNeil, Lindsay Davenport and Ann Grossman for July 19-26 event at Frankfurt, Germany. McNeil owns the highest ranking of the four at No. 19. Shriver is No. 28, Davenport No. 41 and Grossman No. 47.

Conspicuous by their absence were more familiar names like Martina Navratilova, Mary Joe Fernandez and Jennifer Capriati, all ranked among the top seven players in the world.

What's going on here?

"We were a little disappointed that we couldn't get a team with higher rankings," said Dr. Gary Lee of Burlingame, Calif., who is co-chairman of the USTA's Federation Cup Committee. "Every one of those other players had prior commitments."

The United States has won 14 Federation Cup titles, more than any other nation, but has not won the title since 1990.

by CNB