France upset the defending champion US team and Australia beat
top-seeded Russia on Saturday in the opening matches of the Hopman
Cup mixed teams tournament.
Tatiana Golovin defeated Ashley Harkleroad 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and
213th-ranked Jerome Haehnel beat Mardy Fish 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to
give France an unbeatable lead before forfeiting the mixed doubles
match.
Australia beat Russia 2-1 when Alicia Molik and Mark
Philippoussis won their singles events.
Molik, who has struggled on the tour because an inner-ear
problem, defeated sixth-ranked Nadia Petrova 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 and
Philippoussis beat Russian Davis Cup star Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 7-6
(0).
Haehnel's biggest previous win was over Andre Agassi in the
first round of the 2004 French Open, his first match at the elite
level on the ATP Tour.
"It is a big win, I really didn't expect to come, and I really
didn't expect to win, so it is very cool for me," said Haehnel, who
canceled a planned holiday to represent France.
Olympic silver medalist Fish, ranked No. 47, was a replacement
for Taylor Dent, who combined with Lisa Raymond to win the last
Hopman Cup.
Dent withdrew from a title defense because of a back problem.
Harkleroad replaced Venus Williams, who pulled out with a wrist
complaint.
France gained an invitation in the eight-nation event when
Germany could not find a replacement for the injured Nicolas
Kiefer.
Golovin said she still felt a bit of jet lag after winning the
first set, having only arrived in Western Australia state capital a
day before the match.
"I didn't get a lot of practice in this morning, so I think I
just got a little bit tight, but I refocused and regrouped in the
third set," Golovin said.
Philippoussis, who spent most of last season off the tour, is
hoping to get a wild-card entry at the Australian Open next month.
The former Wimbledon finalist has been working with Andre Agassi's
former trainers Darren Cahill and Gil Reyes in Las Vegas.
"It is nothing to get excited about, it was a good match and a
good win, a positive start," Philippoussis said.
Philippoussis said his fitness work with Reyes had given him a
great platform for the 2007 season.
"I feel like I have a very good base, and it is definitely very
important for me now to build on that base and to keep getting
strong," he said.
(China Daily via AP December 31, 2006)