December 31, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 20, 1428

PERTH, Dec 30: Novak Djokovic and Jelena Jankovic shook off some early-season rust to give top seeds Serbia a winning start to their Hopman Cup campaign on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Taiwan.

Jankovic put Serbia ahead with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over world number 157 Hsieh Su-wei and Djokovic was pushed hard before beating 110th-ranked Lu Yen-hsun 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

The Serbs, both ranked third in the world, then joined forces to win the mixed doubles 3-6, 6-2, 10-8.

France opened their bid for the title with a 2-1 win over Argentina in the day’s other Group ‘A’ match.

Having only returned to the practice courts two weeks ago after undergoing nose surgery in November, Jankovic looked very rusty.

The 21-year-old Hsieh, who has spent most of her time on the ITF circuit, a level below the main WTA Tour, forced Jankovic into a host of errors but the Serb’s greater experience saw her through.

“It was my first match of the year, after two months off (and I had surgery), I didn’t expect myself to play my best tennis but I really enjoyed myself and am happy with the win,” Jankovic told reporters.

“I’m actually not that happy with the way I played but I will try to get my rhythm again.”

Djokovic needed to dig deep to overcame a stubborn effort from Lu, who levelled the match at one set apiece after the Serb had won a tight opener.

He had treatment on his lower back early in the second set but recovered his poise in the decider to clinch victory after two hours, 34 minutes.

France owed their win over Argentina to a superb mixed doubles performance as Arnaud Clement and Tatiana Golovin beat Juan Ignacio Chela and Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-2.

“Arnaud was helping me out a lot, I owe it all to him,” Golovin said.

Golovin, ranked a career-high 13th, wore down Dulko 6-4, 6-3 to put France ahead.

After a tough first set, Dulko had treatment on what seemed to be back injury but she broke to lead 2-1 in the second, only for Golovin to roar back to clinch victory.

“I think we both struggled a bit,” Golovin said. “It’s really hard to get a rhythm but it’s my first match so I will have two days to recover for Novak and Jelena (when they play Serbia).

Chela then put Argentina level with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Clement, pulling away from 3-3 in the first set to secure a confident win.

Clement and Golovin then showed their superiority in the mixed doubles, dominating throughout to secure the 2-1 victory.

The winners of each group in the eight-nation mixed team event will meet in Friday’s final.

Results:

Group ‘A’:

Serbia beat Taiwan 3-0

Women’s singles: Jelena Jankovic beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-4, 6-4.

Men’s singles: Novak Djokovic beat Lu Yen-Hsun 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

Mixed doubles: Jankovic/Djokovic beat Hsieh/Lu 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8).

France beat Argentina 2-1

Women’s singles: Tatiana Golovin (France) beat Gisela Dulko (Argentina) 6-4, 6-3

Men’s singles: Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina) beat Arnaud Clement (France) 6-3, 6-1.

Mixed doubles: Golovin/Clement (France) beat Dulko/Chela (Argentina) 6-3, 6-2.

Played on Saturday:

Group ‘B’

Australia beat Czech Republic 2-1

Women’s singles: Alicia Molik (Australia) beat Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-2.

Men’s singles: Tomas Berydch (Czech Republic) beat Peter Luczak (Australia) 7-6 (9-7) 6-4.

Mixed doubles: Molik/Luczak (Australia) beat Safarova/Berdych (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-3.—Agencies