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Bolelli beats Simon to keep Italy in contention at the Hopman Cup
Source: Agencies |
January 7, 2009, Wednesday
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SIMONE Bolelli beat Gilles Simon in straight sets to cancel out France's advantage, then combined with Flavia Pennetta to guide Italy to a 2-1 Hopman Cup win in Perth yesterday.
When Alize Cornet gave France a 1-0 lead with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Pennetta in the women's singles, Italy was only one loss from slumping out of contention in the international mixed team tournament.
But Bolelli beat No. 7-ranked Simon 6-3, 6-3 in the men's singles and then helped Pennetta in a 6-4, 7-6 (2) mixed doubles win to ensure Italy remained in contention in Group B.
"Finally I won against a top 10. First time," Bolelli said. "I played very well, I served very good. I played aggressive .... I played almost perfectly I think."
The Italians lost the opening Group B match 2-1 to Russia after dropping both singles matches the brother-sister team of Marat Safin and Dinara Safina.
France opened with a routine win over Chinese Taipei. Now there's three teams in the group with one win, although Russia has a match in hand.
In Group A, Australia's Lleyton Hewitt finally overcame Dominik Hrbaty 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-4 to force the match against Slovakia into the deciding mixed doubles.
The Slovakians upset top-seeded United States 3-0 on Monday, with Hrbaty setting the tone in a win over James Blake.
Dominika Cibulkova had a 7-5, 6-2 win over Casey Dellacqua in the women's singles yesterday to give the Slovaks a 1-0 buffer over Australia.
Hewitt was two points from victory in the ninth game of the second set before being forced into a third by Hrbaty's comeback in the almost 3-hour match. Hewitt, only two matches back after a five-month layoff with a hip problem, was expected to get only 20 minutes rest before returning with Dellacqua in the doubles in a bid to keep the hosts in contention.
When Alize Cornet gave France a 1-0 lead with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Pennetta in the women's singles, Italy was only one loss from slumping out of contention in the international mixed team tournament.
But Bolelli beat No. 7-ranked Simon 6-3, 6-3 in the men's singles and then helped Pennetta in a 6-4, 7-6 (2) mixed doubles win to ensure Italy remained in contention in Group B.
"Finally I won against a top 10. First time," Bolelli said. "I played very well, I served very good. I played aggressive .... I played almost perfectly I think."
The Italians lost the opening Group B match 2-1 to Russia after dropping both singles matches the brother-sister team of Marat Safin and Dinara Safina.
France opened with a routine win over Chinese Taipei. Now there's three teams in the group with one win, although Russia has a match in hand.
In Group A, Australia's Lleyton Hewitt finally overcame Dominik Hrbaty 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-4 to force the match against Slovakia into the deciding mixed doubles.
The Slovakians upset top-seeded United States 3-0 on Monday, with Hrbaty setting the tone in a win over James Blake.
Dominika Cibulkova had a 7-5, 6-2 win over Casey Dellacqua in the women's singles yesterday to give the Slovaks a 1-0 buffer over Australia.
Hewitt was two points from victory in the ninth game of the second set before being forced into a third by Hrbaty's comeback in the almost 3-hour match. Hewitt, only two matches back after a five-month layoff with a hip problem, was expected to get only 20 minutes rest before returning with Dellacqua in the doubles in a bid to keep the hosts in contention.
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