PERTH, Jan 4: Sweden crashed out of Hopman Cup contention here Wednesday losing 2-1 to top seeds Russia and setting up a three-way race for a berth in the final of the international mixed teams tournament.

The weakened Russian combination of Yuri Schukin and Svetlana Kuznetsova showed greater passion than the Swedish team of Thomas Johansson and Sofia Arvidsson.

The result meant that all eight ties in the tournament have so far finished 2-1.

Earlier in the day, second seeds Argentina, represented by Gisela Dulko and Gaston Gaudio set up an equally-intriguing race to top Group B after they beat the German pair of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Nicolas Kiefer.

Only hosts Australia are now out of contention in that group with the Netherlands, Argentina and Germany all still in with a chance to reach Friday’s final.

Russia had come close to claiming a 2-0 lead in their tie when the unheralded Schukin, ranked 299 in the world, took Johansson, a former Australian Open champion, to the wire before losing 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4).

Kuzsnetsova had earlier claimed the women’s singles with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win over Arvidsson.

Earlier, Kiefer cruised past Argentina’s Gaudio 6-3, 6-3, but the German’s efforts weren’t enough to carry his team to victory.

Results

Group A

Russia bt Sweden 2-1

Women’s singles: Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4

Men’s singles: Thomas Johansson (SWE) bt Yuri Schukin (RUS) 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4)

Mixed doubles: Schukin/Kuznetsova bt Johansson/ Arvidsson 6-3, 7-5

Group B

Argentina bt Germany 2-1

Women’s singles: Giesela Dulko (ARG) bt Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 6-1, 6-0

Men’s singles: Nicolas Kiefer (GER) bt Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 6-3, 6-3

Mixed doubles: Gaudio/Dulko (ARG) bt Kiefer/Groenefeld (GER) 7-5, 6-0

Robredo, Ancic BEATEN

MELBOURNE: Third seed Tommy Robredo suffered a surprise 7-6 3-6 6-3 defeat to unheralded Frenchman Florent Serra in the second round of the Australian hardcourt championships on Wednesday.