France lead Poland in Hopman Cup final

Perth: World number 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gave France the lead in the Hopman Cup final against Poland held on Saturday night.

Tsonga beat the 288th-ranked Grzegorz Panfil, who was a late replacement for Jerzy Janowicz in the Polish team, in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Despite the vast chasm in their rankings, the Frenchman had his hands full with the little-known Panfil in the competition held in Perth, Australia. Tsonga created numerous break points, converting just two of 14, but got a shock when Panfil capitalised on his only opportunity to break in the ninth game of the second set, levelling the match in the process. However, Tsonga steadied in the decider. In the women`s singles, world number five Agnieszka Radwanska was to face Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.