Martina Navratilova's dreams of ending her career with a Fed Cup win were crushed when 17-time champions America were knocked out by Austria in the quarter-finals at Innsbruck.
The 47-year-old, who was due to play the final doubles rubber of the two-day clash with Lisa Raymond, could only watch helplessly as Barbara Schett and then Barbara Schwartz won their reverse singles to give Austria an unassailable 3-1 lead. Austria will be playing in the semi-finals for only the fourth time thanks to Schwartz's dramatic 7-6, 4-6, 10-8 three-hour win over Raymond which followed Barbara Schett's earlier 6-2, 6-3 victory over Chanda Rubin.
Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, Russia beat Argentina in their quarter-final. In the weekend's other quarter-finals, holders France beat Italy 3-0 in Rimini, while, in Jerez, Belgium led Spain 2-0.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
