Session 8 - Chinese Taipei 3 d Argentina 0
Hsieh Su-Wei d Gisela Dulko 3-6, 7-6(7/2), 7-5
Lu Yen-Hsun d Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-4
Hsieh/Lu d Dulko/Chela 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(10/4)
CHINESE Taipei pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis tournament at Perth’s Burswood Dome when they defeated Argentina and put them out of contention for this year’s major prize.
After winning the Asian Hopman Cup qualifying event in Bangkok in November, the Chinese Taipei came to Perth as the $200 outsiders and now retain a faint hope of making Friday night’s Final, needing to beat France and hope other results go their way.
The upset started with Su-Wei Hsieh downing Gisela Dulko in three sets and her partner Yen-Hsuin Lu backed up with a straight-sets victory over Juan Ignacio Chela, with a rankings difference of 90 places on the ATP list.
Lu’s 6-3, 6-4 scorecard came about with a strong service game and he did not offer Chela one break point in either set.
Hsieh overcame a nervous start before claiming the second-set tie-breaker seven points to two and then breaking service at the end of the third to finish with a 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 scorecard.
Hseih, ranked 120 points below the No. 37 of Gisela Dulko, had 13 break points on her rival’s service, converting five of them, while the Argentine had six breaks from nine chances. At one stage Dulko led 3-1 in the second set and served for the match at 5-3.
Thursday’s session will see two double-headers involving six teams still alive in the battle to top the two Groups and claim places in Friday night’s Final. The morning session will decide Group B, with Australia tackling the USA and India meeting the Czech Republic. The evening session sees the Group A teams battle it out, with Serbia and Argentina clashing and France and Chinese Taipei in the other match.
Session 7 - Serbia 2 d France 1
Jelena Jankovic lost to Tatiana Golovin 1-6, 0-6 retired
Novak Djokovic d Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3
Jankovic/Djokovic d Golovin/Clement 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(10/4)
Despite Jelena Jankovic retiring injured in her singles match with Tatiana Golovin, Serbia has pulled off a remarkable victory over France to remain undefeated with one tie to go at Hyundai Hopman Cup XX.
Jankovic suffered a strained muscle in her buttock after just one game in the singles to hand Golovin the win, but Novak Djokovic rebounded with a solid 6-3, 6-3 win over Arnaud Clement.
After scans cleared Jankovic of any serious damage, she came out for the doubles and after losing the first set, Serbia claimed the second and the third in a match tie-break.
Serbia now only needs to defeat Argentina on Thursday night to be assured a place in the final, but will still remain alive even with a loss.
It is far from time for the French team to pack up and go home, though.
After a strong win over Argentina on Sunday night, victory for Golovin and Clement over Chinese Taipei on Thursday night will keep them alive if Serbia loses.
The women’s match between the world No. 3 and 13, loomed as the best of the Hyundai Hopman Cup, but disappointingly Jankovic suffered an injury at the top of her hamstring during the long first game.
Jankovic broke Golovin’s serve in an eight-minute game to start proceedings, but it also ended them as the Serbian suffered the injury overstretching on her backhand side.
She went off for treatment and tried to come back, won the opening two points on serve before surrendering.
Unfazed by Jankovic suffering her injury, Djokovic quickly raced to a 4-1 lead in the opening set against Clement. He wrapped up the set 6-3 in 33 minutes.
The world No. 3 then continued his dominance in the second set. He advanced to a 5-2 lead and wrapped up the match 6-3.
The scans revealed Jankovic didn’t suffer a tear, so she gave the mixed doubles a try. The Serbians then got the first break, on Clement’s serve, to go up 3-2. However, the French broke straight back on Djokovic’s serve.
A break on Jankovic’s serve in the last game of the set was enough for France take it 7-5.
Jankovic went to get re-strapped just before the end of the first set, but her and Djokovic rebounded strongly with the tie on the line in the second.
The Serbians went to a 5-3 lead and Djokovic served it out to take it to a match tie-break.
Djokovic and Jankovic dominated, winning 10 points to four to record a remarkable win after Jankovic’s earlier withdrawal.
Serbia plays Argentina, with France taking on Chinese Taipei in Thursday night’s session, the last before Friday’s final.
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