From: C-ST@clari.net (Sports Ticker)
Subject: Novotna downs Capriati in Ameritech Cup finals
Organization: Copyright 1996 by SportsTicker Enterprises L.P.
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 14:30:36 PST

SPORTSTICKER TENNIS NOTE


Second seed Jana Novotna ended Jennifer Capriati's chances of winning her first tournament in nearly four years by defeating the unseeded American, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 today in the finals of the
$450,000 Ameritech Cup tennis tournament in Chicago.

The 20-year-old Capriati, who has battled drug and legal problems in recent years, was seeking her first title since prevailing at the Sydney Open in Australia in 1993. She was making her first appearance in a tournament final since the Canadian Open in the summer of that same year.

Novotna, who also reached the finals here in 1992, improved to 3-0 lifetime against Capriati, including a 6-4, 6-2 win in the quarterfinals of the European Indoors in Zurich two weeks ago enroute to the championship.

Capriati claimed the biggest victory in her comeback when she stunned top seed Monica Seles of the United States in straight sets Saturday night. She has risen to number 50 in the WTA Tour rankings after re-entering at number 103 on April 1st.

Novotna, ranked fifth in the world, also captured the International Championships of Spain in May. Novtona has won three titles this year and 14 overall. She reached the finals by ousting fifth seed and 16-year-old sensation Martina Hingis of Switzerland on Saturday.