JANA NOVOTNA ended Jennifer Capriati's comeback when she beat the American in three sets in the quarter finals of the £300,000 WTA tournament in Essen yesterday. Fourth seed Novotna won 7-6 (8-6) 2-6 6-3 to set up a semi final clash with home favourite Anke Huber.

Capriati, who had won the first two matches in her first tournament since a brief November 1994 appearance, served for the first set but allowed herself to be broken. She lost the tie break although she had another set point at 6-5.

Capriati bounced back against the defending champion, winning the second set - but only after dropping her serve once again while serving for the set.