DID LAS VEGAS' INTEREST IN FEDERATION CUP "RUNNETH UNDER"?

          Las Vegas can "forget about landing a regular men's or
     women's pro tennis tour stop," according to Ron Kantowski of
     the LAS VEGAS SUN, who wrote that attendance for the four-
     day Federation Cup last week was "abysmal."  The "body
     count" was "generously estimated" at 3,000 for the weeknight
     matches and 5,000 for Friday and Saturday. Kantowski cited
     the event's marketing as one reason for the possible
     turnout, as using the Williams sisters in the advance
     promotion of the event even though they were not playing in
     the event "wound up alienating" fans.  Also, the schedule of
     the matches to accommodate TV "viewers on the East Coast" is
     another reason why "you can't pin" the low attendance on the
     city's "mostly indifferent sports fans."  Kantowski: "It was
     as if the tournament did everything within its power not to
     draw a crowd" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 11/28).