SPAIN came from the brink of defeat to snatch a thrilling victory in the $1-million Hyundai Hopman Cup international tennis championship at Perth's Burswood Dome today.
The third-seeded Spain downed top seeds and tournament favourites the United States with a deciding mixed doubles victory by veteran Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and teenager Tommy Robredo.
They beat Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 6-2, clinching the Cup on their third match point almost 90 minutes after Robredo had saved two match points in his singles clash with Gambill.
Spain defied the odds after former world No. 1 Seles put the opening rubber on the board for the USA with a quality 6-1, 7-6 victory over Sanchez Vicario, also a one-time No. 1, with the tiebreaker going eight points to six.
But the rising young Spanish star Robredo put the final back on level terms with a courageous three-set victory over the more-fancied Gambill, winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, with the tiebreaker going seven points to two. The 19-year-old Robredo, who didn't lose a match in his Cup debut, saved two match points as Gambill served at 5-4 and broke back to force the tiebreaker.
The 30-year-old Sanchez now becomes the first player in 14 years of Hopman Cup championships to win the trophy twice, claiming the trophy in 1990, with her brother Emilio. Spain become the third nation to win the trophy twice, joined Switzerland and Germany as dual winners.
The ITF-sanctioned event saw the winners earn $240,000 prizemoney, plus the two special Argyle diamond-encrusted tennis balls, with the losing finalists taking home $120,000.
