Tennis: Fortune favours Hopman hosts

IMPRESSIVE SINGLES performances by Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic helped Australia to qualify for the Hopman Cup mixed team final in unusual circumstances in Perth yesterday.

The hosts needed to beat France 3-0 to ensure they went through ahead of South Africa, but had to settle for a 2-1 victory after losing the mixed doubles. However, South Africa also had to be content with a 2-1 win in their match against Zimbabwe, because injury to Wayne Ferreira meant they could not play the mixed doubles. Consequently, Australia qualified on their overall record and will play Sweden, Switzerland or the champions Slovakia in the final.

Philippoussis needed just 44 minutes to thrash France's Guillaume Raoux 6-1, 6-2 after the 15-year-old Dokic had earlier got the better of world No 1 Sandrine Testud 6-1, 6-3.

Philippoussis served nine aces and overpowered Raoux from the back of the court in an all-round effort which earned a standing ovation. Last year's US Open runner-up and world No 15 said he was inspired by the form of Dokic. "I wanted to produce something special so that it could be remembered," Philippoussis said.

Dokic, the Sydney schoolgirl with a career ranking of 341, stunned Testud in much the same way as she dispatched Spain's Arantxa Sanchez- Vicario a day earlier. "I was a bit nervous because I knew it was a very important match for us." Dokic said. "I think I'm improving with every match."

Ferreira strained a groin muscle when leading Wayne Black 7-5, 4-1. He managed to hold on to win 7-5, 7-6 but could not appear in the mixed doubles. South Africa still prevailed 2-1 because of Amanda Coetzer's 6-3, 6-4 victory over Cara Black.

Earlier, Martina Hingis kept Switzerland in contention when she beat Lindsay Davenport, who dethroned her as world No 1 last year. Hingis's mixed doubles win with Ivo Heuberger helped Switzerland to a 2-1 win over the United States pairing of Davenport and Jan-Michael Gambill.

Hingis, whose New Year's resolution was to regain the No 1 spot, gave the Swiss the lead with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Davenport in the opening singles. Gambill beat Heuberger 6-4 6-4 and then Hingis and Heuberger settled the match with a workmanlike 6-3 6-3 win over Gambill and Davenport.

Switzerland will be guaranteed a berth in tomorrow's final if they beat Sweden 3-0 today.

In Adelaide, Zimbabwe's Byron Black will meet local favourite Australia's Jason Stoltenberg in the quarter-finals of the Australian men's hardcourt championships.

Black, the fifth seed, cruised into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-2 second-round win over Romania's Andrei Pavel in a match interrupted by rain.

The Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt faced a nervous wait in his bid to retain the title he won as a virtual unknown last year. Rain forced the overnight suspension of his second round match against Czech Jiri Nowak with the score at 7-6, 2-6, 3-2 in the Australian's favour. Top seed Rafter's second-round match against the Czech Slava Dosedel was also postponed until today.

On the Gold Coast, Mary Pierce continued her impressive build-up to this month's Grand Slam event by reaching the Australian hardcourt championship semi-finals.

The top seed beat French compatriot Nathalie Dechy 6-4, 6-3 to set up a meeting with Irina Spirlea. Spirlea secured her berth in the last four with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 win over Germany's Anke Huber. Second seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland beat Spain's Magui Serna 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 and will now play the defending champion Ai Sugiyama of Japan. She beat American qualifier Brie Rippner 6-3, 6-3.