Tennis: Pierce wilts but France win

FRANCE scraped through to the semi-finals of the Federation Cup, the women's team tournament, in Frankfurt yesterday when they beat Bulgaria 2-1 after winning a dramatic deciding doubles.

Julie Halard and Nathalie Tauziat defied the intense heat to beat Katerina and Magdalena Maleeva 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Mary Pierce, the world No 7 who needed a time-out on court for treatment in the second set, had earlier been surprisingly beaten 7-6, 4-6, 4- 6, in a 2hr 36min marathon against Magdalena Maleeva.

Her defeat came after Julie Halard had given France a 1-0 lead when she beat Katerina Maleeva 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. France now play the United States, the second seeds who beat Austria 3-0, for a place in Sunday's final. The defending champions, Spain, face Germany in the other semi-final.

Next year's Federation Cup will have a new format based on the Davis Cup system, with the world's top eight countries competing in the World Group. Teams seeded nine through to 16 will play in Group One.