Sporting Digest: Tennis

The International Tennis Federation has appointed the Italian Francesco Ricci Bitti as its new president. Ricci Bitti the European Tennis Association president, replaces Brian Tobin from Australia, who has stepped down after eight years in the job.

Davis Cup captains will be allowed to use substitutes on the final day of three-day matches for any reason, the International Tennis Federation agreed yesterday. Previously a captain could make a substitution only if a player was injured, or if the rubber would not affect the outcome of the match. Alun James, an ITF spokesman, said: "We have discussed this with World Group captains and everybody is in agreement it is a good idea. It will bring flexibility to the captains... introduce more strategy and adds another element of intrigue. Captains must give an hour's notice of a substitution.

SWEDISH MEN'S OPEN (Stockholm) Singles, second round: G Blanco (Sp) bt J Tarango (US) 6-2 7-5; A Vinciguerra (Swe) bt M Hipfl (Aut) 7-6 6-1; G Puentes (Sp) bt J Alonso (Sp) 3-6 6-4 6-4.

SWISS OPEN (Gstaad): Men's singles, quarter-finals: A Costa (Sp) bt V Spadea (US) 6-3 6-2; Y El Aynaoui (Mor) bt F Clavet (Sp) 7-6 7-5; F Mantilla (Sp) bt A Di Pasquale (Fr) 3-6 6-3 6-4.

GIROBANK TOUR (Felixstowe) Men's singles, first round: B Fulcher (Norfolk) bt A Wharf (Gloucestershire) 3-6 6-1 6-4; D Kiernan (Durham & Cleveland) bt M Powell (Nottinghamshire) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (9-7); P Hand (Berks) bt J Austin (Dorset) 6-4 6-2. Quarter-finals: Spinks bt Harston 6-1 7-5; Fulcher bt S Amey (Derbyshire) 6-4 6-2; Smith bt Perkins 6-4 6-2; Hand bt Kiernan 2-1 ret. Semi-finals: T Spinks (Norfolk) bt B Fulcher (Norfolk) 6-3 6- 4; P Hand (Berks) bt J Smith (Northants) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. Women's singles, first round: C Coombs (Kent) bt R Barnes (Cambridgeshire) 7-6 6-2; E Biro (US) bt B Calderwood (Aus) 6-2 6-4; N Rencken (SA) bt F Barrett (Wiltshire) 6-0 6-1. Quarter-finals: C Coombs (Kent) bt D Bell (Surrey) 7-5 6-2; D Biro (US) bt S Borwell (Durham and Cleveland) 6-2 3-6 6-2; N Rencken (SA) bt C Carter (Notts) 7-6 7-5. Semi-final: A Mojzis (SA) bt C Coombs (Kent) 6-3 6-2.

LTA FUTURES (Felixstowe): Women's singles, semi-finals: K Nugent (Irl) bt K Warne-Holland (Dorset) 6-3 6-1; L Baker (NZ) bt J Lutrova (Rus) 6- 7 6-4 6-2.