Tennis: Graf to return from `exile'

STEFFI GRAF, the former world No 1, will return to Germany's Fed Cup team after a three-year absence for their World Group Two first-round tie against Japan later this month.

The German Federation selected Graf, Anke Huber, Andrea Glass and Marlene Weingaertner for the tie on 24 and 25 April in Hamburg. Japan have chosen Ai Sugiyama, Miho Saeki, Shinobu Asagoe and Saori Obata.

Graf, currently fifth in the WTA rankings, led Germany to Fed Cup victory in 1987 and 1992. She left the German team in 1996 after a financial dispute between her manager and the Federation.

Heavy rain forced play to be abandoned at the Barcelona Open yesterday, putting into jeopardy the final on Sunday, especially with the forecast predicting more downpours over the next 24 hours.