Spain ousts Aussies, storms into Hopman final
Source: Agencies |
January 8, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SPAIN secured a place in the final of the Hopman Cup with a clean sweep of Australia yesterday, with the host nation also concerned by an injury suffered by former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt.
Australia needed to win each of yesterday's matches in straight sets to have a chance of reaching tomorrow's final but its hopes ended when Samantha Stosur was beaten 6-4, 6-1 by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Martinez Sanchez converted half her eight break points, while the Australian only broke once.
"It's not easy at the beginning of the year to play like this," Martinez Sanchez said. "In the pre-season I worked too much, I suffered. I like the risk (of playing difficult shots) and I like to play like this always."
Spain went on to take the men's singles, in which Tommy Robredo beat Hewitt 6-2, 6-4 and mixed doubles.
Hewitt, ranked No. 22, was troubled by a lower back injury during the first set. He appeared in pain as he served five double faults in his first two service games and called for medical attention after dropping the opening set in 37 minutes.
Hewitt moved more freely in the second set, after receiving a lengthy rubdown, and held serve in his first four service games before Robredo claimed a single and decisive break in the ninth game.
The Hewitt injury was a concern for home fans ahead of this month's Australian Open, but he said it was unrelated to his long-standing hip trouble.
"It (my hip) is fine, I just had a bit of a back spasm in the first game of the singles," Hewitt said. "It loosened up as the match wore on but it was frustrating at the start."
Spain has a chance to win its third Hopman Cup after claiming the trophy in 1990 and 2002. Its opponent in the final will be decided today after Britain takes on Russia and Germany plays against Kazakhstan.
Australia needed to win each of yesterday's matches in straight sets to have a chance of reaching tomorrow's final but its hopes ended when Samantha Stosur was beaten 6-4, 6-1 by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
Martinez Sanchez converted half her eight break points, while the Australian only broke once.
"It's not easy at the beginning of the year to play like this," Martinez Sanchez said. "In the pre-season I worked too much, I suffered. I like the risk (of playing difficult shots) and I like to play like this always."
Spain went on to take the men's singles, in which Tommy Robredo beat Hewitt 6-2, 6-4 and mixed doubles.
Hewitt, ranked No. 22, was troubled by a lower back injury during the first set. He appeared in pain as he served five double faults in his first two service games and called for medical attention after dropping the opening set in 37 minutes.
Hewitt moved more freely in the second set, after receiving a lengthy rubdown, and held serve in his first four service games before Robredo claimed a single and decisive break in the ninth game.
The Hewitt injury was a concern for home fans ahead of this month's Australian Open, but he said it was unrelated to his long-standing hip trouble.
"It (my hip) is fine, I just had a bit of a back spasm in the first game of the singles," Hewitt said. "It loosened up as the match wore on but it was frustrating at the start."
Spain has a chance to win its third Hopman Cup after claiming the trophy in 1990 and 2002. Its opponent in the final will be decided today after Britain takes on Russia and Germany plays against Kazakhstan.
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