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Thursday, July 17
Capriati trying to ignore flap

WIMBLEDON, England -- Jennifer Capriati isn't ready to make up with Billie Jean King.

After winning her opening match at Wimbledon on Monday, Capriati made clear she hasn't forgotten the squabble with King that helped lead to the American team's first-round elimination from the Fed Cup.

Capriati, looking for her fourth Grand Slam title, beat Janette Husarova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-4 under sunny skies on Court 1.

In April, following a dispute over practice sessions during the U.S. team's Fed Cup match against Austria at Charlotte, N.C., King kicked the No. 2-ranked Capriati off the team.

That yielded the first point in the best-of-five series on a walkover. When Barbara Schwartz then upset Monica Seles and came back Sunday to beat Meghann Shaughnessy, Capriati's replacement, the Americans were eliminated.

The Americans must now play Israel next month for the chance to rejoin the World Group next year. Capriati was not picked for the U.S. squad, which was announced last week.

After saying Monday that the Fed Cup disagreement with King had "got blown out of proportion, and then it just died down,'' Capriati added: "Basically, I didn't do anything wrong.''

"So really, I'm fine with moving on,'' Capriati said. "I totally believe I did the right thing. I mean, I have no regrets. I think anyone that should have regrets is their side. You know, they lost one of their best players.''

Capriati also said she had not spoken to King.

"Right now, my career is more important,'' she said. "It's not even something I'm thinking about.''

Under King's rules for Fed Cup, all practice sessions were closed to the players' individual coaches and agents, and players were prohibited from practicing on their own time.

Stefano Capriati, Jennifer's father and coach, tried to attend practice sessions early in the week but was barred by King.

It created tension that erupted on the Friday of the match when Capriati said she planned to practice with her father and a hitting partner after the U.S. team was done for the day.

King told her she was not allowed to do it, Capriati argued, and was kicked off the team.

At Wimbledon on Monday, King said that she's willing to talk to Capriati any time.

"I've let her know that from the start,'' King said. "I've known her and the family since she was 12 -- so that's been really tough on the personal side.

"But I still know that the decision we took was the right one. And the players are still firmly behind me. Call it short-term pain for long-term gain.''

Capriati's win Monday wasn't pretty -- six double-faults and 24 unforced errors -- but she said she appreciated a tough match early.

"I'm glad to have gotten a match like that where it wasn't too easy,'' said Capriati. "I really had to concentrate.''

Capriati won the first set easily but fell behind 2-0 and 3-1 in the second during four consecutive breaks of serve, but then won four games in a row to go ahead 5-3.

Looking to finish the match in the ninth game, Capriati slapped herself on the hip when an easy backhand return that could have put her within two points of winning the match floated long.

After Husarova held to force it to a 10th game, Capriati double-faulted to allow the Slovakian back to 30-30 before winning the next two points and taking the match when Husarava's backhand went long.

Capriati said she is better prepared to challenge for the title this year.

"I'm feeling well,'' she said. "I've been playing well the last two weeks, in my practice. My game's a little better this year.''

Capriati touched on her relationship with her two main rivals for the championship -- Venus and Serena Williams -- saying there is no bad blood between them.

"I think we just respect each other in a professional atmosphere, and that's it,'' said Capriati. "That's all I know them as.

"No, we don't go and have tea together, that's for sure.''

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