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1/1/2002
Belgium Survives Clijsters Loss at Hopman Cup
PERTH, Australia (AP) -- Kim Clijsters was bedeviled by unforced errors in losing her singles match, but Belgium beat Italy 2-1 Tuesday in the Hopman Cup.
Clijsters, at No. 5 the tournament's highest-ranked woman, was beaten by Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4. But Belgium's Xavier Malisse stopped Davide Sanguinetti 6-4, 7-5, and Clijsters and Malisse defeated Schiavone and Sanguinetti 6-3, 6-4 in the deciding mixed doubles.
Spain beat Switzerland 3-0 for its second straight sweep. Switzerland, the defending champion, is 0-2 in this mixed-team exhibition leading to the Australian Open.
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario defeated Miroslava Vavrinec 6-2, 6-0, and Tommy Robredo downed Roger Federer 7-6 (7), 6-2. Spain won the mixed doubles 6-2, 6-3.
Federer, who teamed with Martina Hingis last year, has yet to win a match in the tournament.
On Wednesday, the top-seeded United States (1-0), led by Jan-Michael Gambill and Monica Seles, plays Italy. Australia (1-0) faces Argentina (0-1). Belgium plays the United States in the final round-robin match Friday.
Clijsters made 50 unforced errors while Schiavone produced the match of her career. It wasn't until set point that Clijsters found a spark. She saved seven set points until a backhand down the line by Schiavone gave Italy the victory.
``I was rallying all right, I just couldn't finish off the points,'' Clijsters said. ``It was just the winners that were missing. I had so many chances to finish off the points easily and just made some easy mistakes.''
Malisse thinks Belgium has a shot at the title.
``It's just three matches,'' he said. ``If you have a great day and someone else has a bad day it's possible.''
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Belgium Survives Clijsters Loss at Hopman CupClijsters, at No. 5 the tournament's highest-ranked woman, was beaten by Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4. But Belgium's Xavier Malisse stopped Davide Sanguinetti 6-4, 7-5, and Clijsters and Malisse defeated Schiavone and Sanguinetti 6-3, 6-4 in the deciding mixed doubles. Spain beat Switzerland 3-0 for its second straight sweep. Switzerland, the defending champion, is 0-2 in this mixed-team exhibition leading to the Australian Open. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario defeated Miroslava Vavrinec 6-2, 6-0, and Tommy Robredo downed Roger Federer 7-6 (7), 6-2. Spain won the mixed doubles 6-2, 6-3. Federer, who teamed with Martina Hingis last year, has yet to win a match in the tournament. On Wednesday, the top-seeded United States (1-0), led by Jan-Michael Gambill and Monica Seles, plays Italy. Australia (1-0) faces Argentina (0-1). Belgium plays the United States in the final round-robin match Friday. Clijsters made 50 unforced errors while Schiavone produced the match of her career. It wasn't until set point that Clijsters found a spark. She saved seven set points until a backhand down the line by Schiavone gave Italy the victory. ``I was rallying all right, I just couldn't finish off the points,'' Clijsters said. ``It was just the winners that were missing. I had so many chances to finish off the points easily and just made some easy mistakes.'' Malisse thinks Belgium has a shot at the title. ``It's just three matches,'' he said. ``If you have a great day and someone else has a bad day it's possible.''
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