1.   Indeed, though the US lost its final tuneup match, it is on the way to its fourth successive finals.

2.   Sanchez Vicario found out about the ranking arrangement during a players meeting at Wimbledon, where she reached her fourth consecutive Grand Slam final.

3.   Sanchez Vicario, looking none the worse for wear for her weeklong bout with a stomach virus, reached her fourth French Open final.

4.   The Comets ran around the court holding up four fingers, indicative of their remarkable achievement, and Cooper got her fourth finals MVP, narrowly beating out Swoopes.

5.   The Fighting Irish were playing in their fourth Big East final.

6.   The Germans walked proudly into this World Cup as defending champions and favorites to return to their fourth consecutive final.

7.   This is the fourth consecutive final in which a European team will face a South American team.

8.   This is the fourth straight final between the two in tournaments they have both entered.

9.   Agassi remains favored to reach his fourth French final.

10.   Capriati is seeking her second straight title and reached her fourth final in five events since winning the Australian Open in January.