Spain opened their Hopman Cup campaign in fine style with a clean sweep of the United States in their Group A tie at the mixed teams tournament in Australia on Sunday. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez overcame some late jitters to give the Spanish the lead with a straight sets win over teenager Melanie Oudin, 6-4, 6-4.
Tommy Robredo then outlasted giant American John Isner in a thrilling men's singles clash. Robredo, the world No 16, had his hands more than full with the towering 206cm Isner, ranked 34th, who fired down 16 aces during the match and took the first set in a tiebreak.
However, Robredo rallied to win the second set with the only break of serve of the match, before blunting the booming Isner serve when it mattered most to prevail in a third-set tiebreak, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
The Spanish, looking to give their country a third Hopman Cup title, then completed a clean sweep with a straight sets win, 6-4, 7-5, over the Americans in the dead mixed doubles rubber. Robredo was pleased with how he was able to return serve against Isner, although he admitted it was like playing roulette at the adjacent casino.
"It's like in the casino," Robredo said of the Isner serve. Martinez Sanchez, who had woken up ill, dominated the early stages of her clash with Oudin, and looked set for a comfortable win when she was up a set and two breaks of serve at 5-2.
However, the American rallied strongly and had chances to level at 5-5, before the Spaniard steadied to clinch the match. The Spanish will on Tuesday play Romanian pair Sorana Cirstea and Victor Hanescu, who posted a shock win over Australia on Saturday, and the winner will be in the box seat to top Group A after the round robin stage and reach Saturday's final.
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