Tennis

FED CUP FINAL

(Maspalomas, Gran Canaria)

D. Hantuchova (Slovakia) bt M. Serna (Spain) 6-2 6-1, C. Martinez (Spain) bt J. Husarova (Slovakia) 6-4 7-6. (8-6)

Spain level with Slovakia, 1-1.

PARIS MASTERS:

Quarter-finals: P. Srichaphan (Thailand) bt 12-A. Roddick (US) 6-3 7-6 (7-3), 1-L. Hewitt (Australia) bt 8-R. Federer (Switzerland) 6-4 6-4, 3-M. Safin (Russia) bt N. Escude (France) 6-3 5-7 6-3, 10-C. Moya (Spain) bt 2-A. Agassi (US) 6-4 6-4.

Semifinals: Safin bt Moya 7-5 7-6 (7-4), Hewitt bt Srichaphan 6-3 3-6 6-3.

CHELSEA CUP:

Women: Northcote 6 Mairangi Bay 0, Campbells Bay 4 Milford 2, Takapuna 5 Belmont 1, Whangaparaoa 4 Waimauku 2.

Men: Northcote 4 Mairangi Bay 2, Takapuna 3 (8 sets) Milford 3 (7 sets), Whangaparaoa 5 Browns Bay 1, Campbells Bay 5 Belmont 1.

CARO BOWL:

Women: Parnell 5 Pompallier 1, Bucklands Beach 6 Titirangi 0, Mangere Combined 5 Remuera 1, Royal Oak 5 Kohimarama 1,

Men: Pompallier 5 Kohimarama 1, Parnell 3 Remuera 3, West End 5 Mission Bay 1, Belvedere lead Waiata 3-1.


NORTH HARBOUR:

The Northcote women's team continued their strong run in the Chelsea Cup competition, dropping just one set as they beat injury-hit Mairangi Bay 6-0, with Pavlina Noal beating new No 1 Marion Huisman for the loss of just two games.

Nicole Davis had a chance of a gaining a win for her team but was eventually defeated in three tight sets by Jenna Lee.

Northcote head the points table with 36, 12 ahead of second-placed Campbells Bay, who scored a 4-2 victory over third-placed Milford.

Nikki Tippins was in good form at No 1 for Campbells Bay. Milford's singles success came at No 3, where Tamina Hemehem beat former Silver Fern Tania Dalton in three sets.

Fourth-placed Whangaparaoa beat Waimauku 4-2, and Takapuna beat fellow bottom side Belmont 5-1.

In the men's competition, Takapuna and Milford are the joint leaders after five rounds on 32 points.

The teams drew their match against each other 3-3, but Takapuna won on countback, eight sets to six, after Alistair Hunt beat Nick Turner 7-6 6-3 but Kevin Jay lost to Jeffrey Birse in a third-set tiebreak.

Northcote have 30 points after a 4-2 win over Mairangi Bay in which every match was decided in straight sets.

Mairangi No 4 Neil McCann was involved in both victories, beating Lee Russell in singles and teaming with Paul Cooper to beat Kevin Doh and Larry White in doubles.

CARO BOWL:

The clash between the two top sides finished as expected in a 3-3 draw, after Jason Young scored an upset win for Remuera over Steven Downs in the No 3 singles, but his side then retired injured in their two doubles matches.

Earlier, the match between Davis Cup players Dan Willman and Alistair Hunt became a slugfest of big serves and volleying, with Hunt coming away with the win 6-7 7-6 7-6.

Brett Steven had the most games taken off him so far this season when Nick Turner managed a 2-6 2-6 scoreline and Andrew Turner picked up the bottom singles for Parnell.

The draw means both teams remain in the top two.

In the women's competition, Royal Oak triumphed over Kohimarama, but not before 14-year-old prodigy Marina Erakovic claimed another win, this time over Cybil Zhong, in straight sets.

Parnell scored a 5-1 win over Pompallier and second-placed Bucklands Beach were too good for Titirangi.

Mangere defeated Remuera, with Tracey O'Connor scoring another win over close rival Ilke Gers in the top singles.