Romania stuns hosts in Perth opener
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2010, Sunday
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EXPECTATION turned to dismay for Australia yesterday as the hosts were stunned 2-1 by Romania in the opening round-robin match of the Hopman Cup in Perth.
Lleyton Hewitt looked to have turned things in the top seeds' favor when he levelled the match at 1-1 with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 win over Victor Hanescu after Sorana Cirstea had shocked Sam Stosur 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
But Cirstea and Hanescu then beat the Australians 7-5, 6-1 in the deciding mixed doubles, leaving the host nation facing an uphill battle if they are to reach the final.
"For me today was a perfect day," Cirstea said. "Beating Sam for the first time and then going out to play mixed doubles for the first time with Victor, it was a great day."
World No. 13 Stosur seemed completely in charge when she led by a set and 2-0 but the 45th-ranked Cirstea gradually fought her way into the match and eventually clinched a well-deserved victory.
"I think I started a little bit in awe but after that I got better and better," Cirstea said. "She was serving unbelievable and I was just thinking, try to get one break and hold my serve."
Former world No. 1 Hewitt was also in trouble when he dropped the first set to Hanescu but the Australian battled back in typical style to level the match.
The third set was nip and tuck but as Hanescu tired, suffering from cramp in the latter stages, Hewitt romped through the deciding tiebreak 7-2 to clinch victory.
Both Hewitt and Stosur have won grand-slam doubles titles but they were thoroughly outplayed by the Romanians, who are now in pole position in Group A.
Despite their defeat, Hewitt was pleased with his first singles performance of the year.
"I hadn't really played a match for three months so the first match was always going to be tough," he said.
"Victor was hitting his serves very close to the lines so it was hard for me to get a rhythm. But I got better as the match went on.
"I had to hang in there. I tried to mix it up a bit and I started to serve better as the match went on as well."
The United States, represented by US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin and John Isner, plays Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Tommy Robredo of Spain in the only match today indoors at the Burswood Dome.
Britain, with Andy Murray and Laura Robson, plays its first match tomorrow against Kazakhstan. Germany takes on Russia, also on Monday.
Australia, Spain, Romania and the US are playing in Group A, while Russia, Britain, Germany and Kazakhstan make up Group B. The winners of each group play in next Saturday's final.
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