Andy Murray swept Igor Andreev 6-1, 6-0 as Britain beat Russia 2-1 yesterday to claim a spot in the final of the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis event for the first time.
Elena Dementieva gave Russia a 1-0 lead when she beat 15-year-old Laura Robson 6-4, 6-0, but Murray made it 1-1 with his singles win and then teamed with Robson to beat Andreev and Dementieva 6-4, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (6) in an exciting mixed doubles climax.
Murray has spent less than three hours on court in his three singles wins in the Hopman Cup and told media he was feeling confident ahead of the Australian Open that starts on Jan. 18 in Melbourne.
PHOTO: EPA
“If I can play like that then I can win Australia for sure,” Murray was quoted as saying. “But I need to make sure I do it in a couple of weeks and play like that from the start of the tournament until the end.”
The British pair had to win to earn the right to face Spain, which clinched its place in the final.
Murray set the tone with a comprehensive win over Andreev in just 48 minutes and contributed vital points throughout the doubles.
He was unbeaten in the group stage, winning all three of his singles matches and combining with Robson for three doubles wins. Robson lost all her singles matches but was a good support for Murray in doubles.
Kazakhstan beat Germany 2-0 in Friday’s other group B match.
Andreev was unable to match Murray’s power as the Scot took the first set in 29 minutes and wrapped up the second in only 19 minutes.
Dementieva’s experience carried her to a convincing win over world No. 403 Robson.
■BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL
REUTERS, SYDNEY
Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters set up an all-Belgian final at the Brisbane International final yesterday.
Henin, playing her first tournament since her retirement in 2008, crushed Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2 in their semi-final.
Then Clijsters demolished Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2.
The former Fed Cup team mates have already played each other 22 times before, with Henin holding a 12-10 advantage, but today’s final will be their first clash since the 2006 Wimbledon semi-finals.
In the men’s event, American Andy Roddick and Czech Tomas Berdych both won their quarter-finals to join holder Radek Stepanek and Gael Monfils in today’s semi-finals.
Roddick sent down 16 aces in beating Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 7-6 after Berdych edged past Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 2-6 7-6.
In the semi-finals of the women’s doubles, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic defeated Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan and Taiwan’s Chan Yung-jan 2-6, 6-4, 10-7.
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