Williams leads Americans into Hopman Cup final
Updated: 2008-01-04 09:03
PERTH, Australia - Serena Williams led the United States into the Hopman Cup final with a 3-0 whitewash of Australia in their Group B match on Thursday.
 Serena Williams of the United States bounces her racquet off the court during her women's singles match against Alicia Molik of Australia at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008. Williams won the match 6-2, 7-6. [Agencies] |
The former world number one beat Alicia Molik 6-2 7-6 to put the number two seeds ahead and Mardy Fish overcame Peter Luczak 7-6 7-6 to give the Americans an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Williams and Fish then outclassed Molik and Luczak in the mixed, winning it 6-2 6-3 to complete the hosts' misery.
"I served really well today," Williams told reporters.
"Alicia has one of the best serves in women's tennis but I think I returned well and everything is coming together well."
Australian Open champion Williams, who did not concede a single break point in the whole match, ripped through the first set in less than half an hour.
Molik, who reached a career-high ranking of eight in 2005 before an inner-ear infection put her out for six months, saved break points in the ninth and 11th games to force a tiebreak in the second set.
She then saved two match points at 6-5 and 7-6 down but a double fault gave Williams victory at the third time of asking.
In the other Group B match, the Czech Republic earned a consolation win with a 2-1 victory over India.
World number 23 Lucie Safarova held off the challenge of Sania Mirza to put the Czechs ahead with a 6-2 4-6 6-3 victory.
Tomas Berdych, who, like his girlfriend Safarova, struggled with a virus early in the week, then beat Rohan Bopanna 6-4 6-0.
Mirza and Bopanna took their Hopman Cup mixed doubles record to six wins out of six with a 6-3 6-2 victory.
"It's a shame we didn't get to the final, but at least we kept our unbeaten record," Mirza said.
"The good thing is we got a lot of matches in this week - a lot of good matches, so it is very good preparation for the Australian Open."
Later on Thursday, top seeds Serbia can seal their place in the final by beating Argentina. France play Chinese Taipei in the other Group A match.
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