Session 6 - India 2 d Australia 1
Sania Mirza d Alicia Molik 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
Rohan Bopanna lost to Peter Luczak 6-7, 3-6
Mirza/Bopanna d Molik/Luczak 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(13/11)
After a tense battle, India has won the mixed doubles over Australia to kick off the New Year at the Hyundai Hopman Cup and keep its final hopes alive.
India’s Sania Mirza proved too good for Alicia Molik in the opening singles match of 2008, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Peter Luczak then won his first Hyundai Hopman Cup match over Rohan Bopanna 7-6, 6-3 to force the tie into the mixed doubles.
The teams shared the opening two sets, before India prevailed 13 points to11 in an exciting match tie-break. The win keeps India alive in the race for the final, but only if Australia beats the United States on Thursday.
America can go straight through to the final if it beats the Aussies, but if Molik and Luczak prevail, and India beats the Czech Republic, all three will be tied on wins and it will be left to the mathematicians.
After a dominant display in her opening match against Lucie Safarova, Molik came out struggling against Mirza, losing the first set 2-6.
The second set followed the same script, but Molik and Mirza exchanged roles. Molik regained some of her form from the opening night to take it 6-2.
Mirza quickly turned around the disappointing second set and looked on the way to victory in the third set racing to a 5-1 lead. She had match points in the seventh game, but Molik fought through it and subsequently won four straight games to get the score to 4-5.
However, Mirza still had the advantage of a service break and held on to take the match.
Luczak and Bopanna were both after their first Hyundai Hopman Cup win and began with a tough first set that went to a tie-breaker. Luczak proved too good, though, winning seven points to two.
Luczak had less trouble in the second set, playing some strong tennis to comfortably win 6-3 and ensure a live mixed doubles.
The undefeated run of India in the mixed doubles at the Hyundai Hopman Cup looked to continue with 6-2 win in the opening set. After Australia won the opening match after a seven-minute battle, Mirza and Bopanna raced through the rest of the set in only 20 minutes.
After gaining a break, India looked on its way to victory 4-2 up in the second set, but then Molik and Luczak responded to go to a 5-4 lead, then broke Bopanna’s serve to force a deciding match tie-break set.
Australia took the early advantage in the race to 10 points, or a two-point advantage, but it was back level at 8-8. Both teams kept battling it out, before India had a 12-11 lead and won the deciding point off Mirza’s serve.
The teams have a day’s break now, before playing Thursday’s day sessions, which will see the Group B finalist decided.
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