PERTH, Jan 7: Lleyton Hewitt dug deep to lead Australia into the Hopman Cup final on Wednesday after his fiance Kim Clijsters had earlier limped out of the tournament with an ankle injury.
Belgian world number two Clijsters quit after hurting her left ankle while leading Hewitt's Australian team mate Alicia Molik 6-3 6-7 3-2 in the opening singles. A scan revealed she had bruising on her ankle bone and she later withdrew from the tournament.
The injury casts a shadow over her hopes for the upcoming Australian Open with medical experts only prepared to say they were "cautiously optimistic" she would be fit in time for the Jan 19 start of the grand slam.
Hewitt followed Clijsters onto court at the Burswood Dome and recovered from a loose first set to beat her Belgian team mate Xavier Malisse 3-6 6-1 6-2.
In an ironic twist, Hewitt also needed treatment after turning his left ankle in the third set of his match, but after applying additional strapping he continued and completed the victory.
"I was lucky I was wearing my ankle braces otherwise I'd be out of the whole Australian summer I guess," Hewitt said as he left the court. "It felt weak after it but I was alright."
With Clijsters unable to take part in the eagerly-anticipated "love match" mixed doubles against her fianc, Australia were handed a 3-0 victory. "I saw Kim afterwards and she was pretty distressed," Hewitt said. "I guess she will just be hoping she can make the Australian Open later this month."
The win and Clijsters' withdrawal from the event puts Australia into Saturday's final of the A$1 million ($772,000) ITF mixed team competition. They look likely to face the U.S. in a repeat of last year's final after the Americans saw off France on Wednesday night.
In the first match of the evening session, Lindsay Davenport belied her claims of being "underdone" entering the season when she beat world number four Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-4.
Having said she was "many matches away from really feeling great" after recovering from foot surgery, the American wasted no time taking apart her French opponent to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
James Blake then gave his side an unbeatable 2-0 lead when he sailed past Fabrice Santoro 6-3 6-4.
Results:
U.S. take winning 2-0 lead over France
Scores (U.S. names first): James Blake bt Fabrice Santoro 6-3 6-4; Lindsay Davenport bt Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-4
Australia bt Belgium 3-0
Scores (Australian names first): Alicia Molik bt Kim Clijsters 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 2-3 retired; Lleyton Hewitt bt Xavier Malisse 3-6 6-1 6-2; Hewitt/Molik bt Malisse/Clijsters walkover.
DOHA: Second round results from the $1 million Qatar Open ATP tennis tournament on Wednesday:
4-Seabstein Grosjean (France) beat Bohdan Ulihrach (Czech Republic) 6-1 6-4; Nicolas Escude (France) beat Ivo Heuberger (Switzerland) 6-3 6-2; Sargis Sargsian (Armenia) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 3-6 6-3 6-2; Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) beat 1-Andy Roddick (U.S.) 6-3 6-4; Augustin Calleri (Argentina) beat Hicham Arazi (Morocco) 4-6 6-4 7-5; Lee Hyun-taik (South Korea) beat Stefan Koubek (Austria) 6-4 6-4; 7-Tim Henman (Britain) beat Juan Igancio Chela (Argentina) 6-3 6-4
ADELAIDE: Results from the $380,000 Australian men's hardcourt tennis championship on Wednesday:
First round: Todd Reid (Australia) beat 1-Wayne Ferreira (South Africa) 6-0 6-1; Cyril Saulnier (France) beat 4-Robby Ginepri (U.S.) 6-3 6-4; Greg Rusedski (Britain) beat Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 6-4 6-2; Raemon Sluiter (Netherlands) beat Guillermo Canas (Argentina) 6-4 6-4
Second round: 5-Taylor Dent (U.S.) beat Karol Beck (Slovakia) 7-6 (8-6) 7-5; 2-Vincent Spadea (U.S.) beat Wayne Arthurs (Australia) 6-4 6-7 (8-10) 6-3; Thomas Johansson (Sweden) beat 3-Arnaud Clement (France) 6-4 6-3; Michael Llodra (France) beat 8-Nicolas Lapentti (Ecuador) 6-1 6-3-Reuters