As with the other Group B match of the 2010 Hyundai Hopman Cup tournament between Russia and Germany, Great Britain had to win the mixed doubles match to sneak past Kazakhstan to avoid an upset. The number three seed Great Britain pulled out a 2-1 victory over number eight seed Kazakhstan.
Ranked number four in the world, Andy Murray has teamed up with the young tennis player Laura Robson to make up the Great Britain team as part of his preparation for the upcoming Australian Open. Kazakhstan is represented by Yaroslava Shvedova and Andrey Golubev.
Shvedova entered into the women's single match of the tie sick. She has been fighting a cold since arriving in Perth last week.
Her cold may have slowed her down some, but did not stop Shvedova from defeating the young Britain, Robson. The match was slowed due to Shvedova's nose bleed between the first and second set.
Robson is only 15 years old, but put up a tough fight the majority of the match. The young future tennis star won the first set before losing the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 to the experienced Shvedova. Robson's double faults and Shedova's aces were a key factor in the match.
In the men's single match, the number 133rd ranked Golubev had a tough match against one of the world’s top ranking players Murray. Golubev proved to be no match for Murray as the match took only 62 minutes to play; 6-3, 6-3.
With Shvedova winning the women's single for Kazakhstan and Murray winning the men's for Great Britain, the two teams entered into the mixed double match tied. This would be a tough match for both teams.
Shvedova and Golubev had won the Asian Hopman Cup in November. But Great Britain played hard and won the match in the tie breaker; 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (12/10).
Next in the Group B play of the Hyundai Hopman Cup for Kazakhstan is Russia on Wednesday. Great Britain will play Germany also on Wednesday.
Written by Denise Clay
For Huliq
Photo Credit: Charlie Cowins
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