U.S. Fed Cup fields strong team led by Capriati, Seles

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Jennifer Capriati, the No. 1 player in the world, and Monica Seles, winner of nine Grand Slam events, will play on the U.S. Fed Cup team that opens play against Austria next month.

Joining them are Lisa Raymond, the world’s top-ranked doubles player, and Meghann Shaughnessy, making her Fed Cup debut.

The U.S. team plays Austria in the best-of-5 opening round series on April 27-28 in Charlotte, N.C. Two singles matches will be played on the first day; two singles and a doubles match are set for the second day.

The winner plays the Czech Republic or Croatia in a second round match July 20-21.

I couldn't be more pleased with our Fed Cup team for the start of the 2002 campaign,'' team captain Billie Jean King said Thursday.Not only do we have the top players in singles and doubles in Jennifer and Lisa, but we also have a loyal veteran and formidable Fed Cup player in Monica and a rising star in Meghann.”

Capriati has played on four Fed Cup teams, helping the U.S. win in 2000. The 1992 Olympic gold medal winner, Capriati’s resurgence to the top ranking has seen her win three of the last five Grand Slam titles.

Seles has been playing Fed Cup since 1996, and was a member of winning teams in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Ranked No. 6 in the world, Seles’ most recent title — the 52nd of her career — was last month in Doha, Qatar.

Raymond has been ranked No. 1 in doubles for nearly eight months. This year, she has won four doubles titles and one singles title. Raymond played Fed Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

Shaughnessy is ranked No. 13 in singles, and No. 24 in doubles.

The United States has won a record 17 Fed Cup titles since the event began in 1963. The team withdrew from last year’s competition in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.