January 03, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 23, 1428

PERTH, Jan 2: Jelena Jankovic battled through a leg injury at the Hopman Cup on Wednesday to give Serbia a 2-1 victory over France, putting them on course for a place in the final.

Taiwan caused a huge shock when they beat Argentina 3-0 in the night match to keep alive their own slim hopes of qualifying.

Most of the drama surrounded Jankovic, who handed France an early lead when she withdrew after only a game and a half of her match with Tatiana Golovin because of an injury to the top of her right leg.

Novak Djokovic pulled top seeds Serbia level with a confident 6-3, 6-3 victory over Arnaud Clement.

After a scan revealed that Jankovic had not torn a muscle, she decided to play the deciding mixed doubles, and she and Djokovic won it 5-7, 6-4, 10-4 (super tiebreak) to seal victory in the Group A clash.

The 20-year-old Djokovic, who will be one of the favourites for the title at the Australian Open later this month, cruised to victory over Clement.

Though Jankovic’s movement was clearly restricted, the Serbian pair broke to lead 3-2 but France hit back and snatched the set with another break in the 12th game.

Djokovic and Jankovic then stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set and held on to level the match, before romping through the tiebreak 10-4.

Jankovic said she will undergo more treatment on Thursday before deciding whether to play against Argentina in their final Group A match on Thursday.

Victory for Serbia will ensure them top spot in Group A and send them through to Friday’s final of the eight-nation mixed team event.

Should Serbia lose to Argentina, then Taiwan could yet reach the final after they upset the Argentines.

World number 157 Hsieh Su-wei came from a set and 5-2 down to beat Gisela Dulko, ranked 120 places above her, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Lu Yen-hsun, ranked 110, then clinched a famous victory for Taiwan when he hammered world number 20 Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-4.

The Taiwan pair then joined forces to beat Chela and Dulko in the mixed doubles, winning the match in a match tiebreak.

Taiwan take on France in their remaining match on Thursday.—Reuters