January 4, 2008

Mission Accomplished!

The United States won their fourth Hopman Cup in six years. Aided by a one match headstart in the final after Jankovic, battling a right thigh injury, forfeited her singles match, Serena Williams and Mardy Fish claimed the title with a straight sets win in the deciding mixed doubles clash, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

That win came after Novak Djokovic had levelled the tie with a three-set win over a brave Fish in the men's singles, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7) 7-6 (7/4). For the third day in a row a hobbling Jankovic played in a deciding mixed doubles rubber with heavy strapping on her injured right leg, but it was third time unlucky for her and Djokovic as they squandered a good start and succumbed to the Americans.

The Serbs looked on track for an upset win when they raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set, but the superior fitness of the Americans started to tell and they hit back and worked their way back into the contest. The Americans took the first set on a tie-break and then dominated the second set. Fish sealed the victory with a backhand pass to break the Jankovic serve and end the match after one hour and 25 minutes.

It was the United States' fifth win here overall and Fish's first Hopman Cup success, while Williams teamed up with James Blake to win the title in 2003. In her two appearances, Williams is yet to play in a losing rubber.

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