Robert Splaine is hoping the team that placed second in last year’s US nations cup will get his new term as manager off to a good start today when they line out in Florida.

THE World Cup’s Western European League begins this weekend in Oslo, and Denis Lynch is taking a different approach to last year.

Mary Pierce needed seven match points before finally beating Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-0 6-3 to win her first US outdoor hardcourt title at the Acura Classic in California.