Tennis: Australia are tamed: Spain renew Federation Cup reign

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO and Conchita Martinez showed pride as much as power on their favourite clay surface to seal Spain's 3-0 win over Australia in the Federation Cup final in Frankfurt yesterday.

Sanchez Vicario, the former French Open champion, and the world No 6, Martinez, dominated their singles matches against Nicole Provis and Michelle Jaggard-Lai respectively to clinch a 2-0 winning lead after the first two rubbers.

But the pair were not prepared to give up the doubles' rubber. Despite losing the first set 6-3 to Elizabeth Smylie and Rennae Stubbs, Sanchez Vicario and Martinez made a determined comeback to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

'After we won both the singles we were having fun in the first set but we started to play really well. We wanted to win,' Sanchez Vicario said. 'I was proud to have won two points. It is special to win for the second time and bring the trophy back to Spain.'

Martinez gave the top seeds a

confident start in the first rubber with a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory over Jaggard-Lai which took just 62 minutes. Sanchez Vicario, a member of Spain's triumphant team in 1991, then gave a typically aggressive performance to clinch the crucial second rubber, beating Povis 6-2, 6-3. Provis could not find a way to break down the battling world No 3, who won in 61 minutes.