THREE nations still have a chance of qualifying to meet Spain in Saturday’s final of the Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis championship when the final matches are played at Perth’s Burswood Dome today (Friday).
Top seeds and early favourites the United States need to beat fourth seeds Belgium 3-0 in their final match to be guaranteed a place in the final. A 2-1 win to Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill would leave the way open for Italy to snatch an unlikely finals spot from the USA on a countback.
The scenario for Belgium pair Kim Clijsters and Xavier Malisse is simple they just need to win as they would emerge from Group A with an unbeaten record.
While the USA and Belgium are battling it out on centre court, Italy will be striving for a comfortable clean-sweep against France to keep their faint hopes alive.
The Italian pair of Davide Sanguinetti and Francesca Schiavone have been the surprise team of the tournament, winning the play-off against Greece and then downing the USA, but they must overcome a big sets-percentage deficit if they are to reach the final.
Earlier yesterday Spain went through to the final after Australia defaulted in their final match, due to Lleyton Hewitt being forced to withdraw owing to a bout of chicken pox.
