SPORTS

Russia win Hopman Cup

January 05, 2007 21:54 IST

Russia secured their first Hopman Cup title after a clinical victory over Spain in the final on Friday.

World number six Nadia Petrova gave the top seeds the momentum with a 6-0, 6-4 demolition of Anabel Medina Garrigues before Dmitry Tursunov sealed the tie with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over world number seven Tommy Robredo.

"I think we played really well, Nadia came out firing on all cylinders," Tursunov said after he and Petrova received the diamond encrusted golden tennis balls awarded to the winners.

"I know how it feels to play against someone who is playing really well and you don't get any chances."

For Tursunov it was a second team success in just over a month after his part in Russia's victory over Argentina in the Davis Cup final in Moscow.

"It's always nice to win whether it's Davis Cup, Hopman Cup, any sort of cup," he told reporters.

"Any win you get under your belt builds confidence. It's nice to win for your country. It's nice to be part of a team and have a common goal."

Since losing their opening pool match against Australia, the Russian duo improved as the tournament progressed, beating France in their final group tie by the required 3-0 margin to ensure a debut appearance in the final.

PINPOINT ACCURACY

Petrova, showing no signs of the side strain injury which troubled her earlier in the week, rattled off the first set against Medina Garrigues in 30 minutes helped by some pinpoint groundstrokes.

A roar from the crowd boosted Medina Garrigues as she opened her account in the second set but the Russian broke again to take a 4-2 lead.

The Spaniard managed to level at 4-4, but Petrova secured two match points on her opponent's serve while leading 5-4 and sealed the win at the second attempt when Medina Garrigues's lame forehand drifted wide.

Petrova said her priority was to maintain her fitness before the Australian Open starting on January 15, but added the victory had given her confidence ahead of the year's first grand slam.  

"If I can play tennis like I did today I feel like I have a good chance," she said.

Tursunov, ranked 22 in the world, looked the sharper against Robredo, who appeared jaded after Spain's final pool match ended in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Russian claimed the opener in 38 minutes with ferocious power hitting from the baseline but Robredo hit back to serve for the second set at 5-4.

Tursunov stepped up his game and clinched victory with a crunching forehand service return winner only called in after a referral to Hawk-Eye.

The dead mixed doubles rubber turned into an exhibition match at the packed Burswood Dome.

Source: REUTERS
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