Sania, Bopanna crash out of Hopman Cup

A valiant India faltered in a crucial tie against second-seeded Spain to bow out of the Hopman cup mixed team tennis competition on Thursday.

Perth, Jan 4: A valiant India faltered in a crucial tie against second-seeded Spain to bow out of the Hopman cup

mixed team tennis competition Thursday. Playing in group (b) in their maiden outing at the event, Indian star Sania Mirza lost her opening singles to Anabel Medina Garrigues while Rohan Bopanna also suffered a defeat against world number seven Tommy Robredo. The Indians had something to cheer about though when they won the inconsequential doubles tie 6-7, 6-2, 10-8 at the Burswood dome. Spain rode on the victory to make it to the title clash against top-seeded Russia who advanced from group (a) when Nadia Petrova and Dmitry Tursunov blanked France 3-0. India, who went into the tie against Spain on the back of upset wins against Czech Republic and Croatia, put up a spirited fight once again before running out of steam. Sania, ranked 65th, lost the opening singles match to Garrigues 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 while Robredo defeated Bopanna 6-2, 6-3. Sania's defeat could be blamed to her 61 unforced errors against Medina Garrigues. in the Russia-France match, Petrova beat Tatiana Golovin of france 7-6 (2), 6-0 and california-based tursunov defeated Jerome Haehnel 6-1, 6-4 in the singles. In another group a match earlier in the day, Australia beat the United States 2-1 after Alicia Molik and Nathan Healey won the deciding mixed doubles over Ashley Harkleroad and Mardy Fish 6-4, 7-5. The Americans finished 0-3. Bureau Report