Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010860462300.htm

Sport - Sports : General

USA crashes out

PERTH: James Blake’s bid for a third Hopman Cup title will have to wait after the United States slumped out of contention with a 2-1 loss to Germany on Wednesday.

Blake beat Nicolas Kiefer in three sets to square the match after Meghann Shaughnessy had lost to Germany’s Sabine Lisicki in the women’s singles, leaving the result hinging on the mixed doubles, which Lisicki and Kiefer won.

After losing 3-0 to Slovakia in its opening match, the United States needed to beat Germany and Australia to have a chance of reaching Friday’s final in the international mixed team tournament.

The winner of the Germany vs. Slovakia match will top Group A and advance to the final. The United States will end the round-robin against host Australia, which is also winless in two matches.

Siblings shine

Russia’s brother-sister combination of Marat Safin and Dinara Safina moved into outright top place in Group B with a 2-1 win over Taiwan.

The Russians secured the match after winning both singles.

The results:

Group A: Germany bt United States 2-1 (Sabine Lisicki bt Meghann Shaughnessy 4-6, 6-0, 6-4; Nicolas Kiefer lost to James Blake 7-6(3), 6-7(7), 6-4; Lisicki & Kiefer bt Shaughnessy & Blake 6-3, 3-6, 10-7).

Group B: Russia bt Taiwan 2-1 (Dinara Safina bt Hsieh Su-wei 4-6, 6-2, 7-5; Marat Safin bt Lu Yen-hsun 7-6(6), 7-5; Safina & Safin lost to Hsieh & Lu 4-6 6-3, 10-8). — AP