PERTH, Jan 9: Australia were forced to pull out of the Hopman Cup final on Friday after Alicia Molik's foot injury proved more serious than initially hoped.
The hosts will be replaced by Slovakia in Saturday's showpiece match against the United States. A scan on Molik's left foot revealed a partial tear to an ankle ligament, the player said on Friday. The team's withdrawal means Lleyton Hewitt's eagerly-anticipated match against James Blake will not take place now.
"It is out of my hands," Molik said. "I have spoken to Lleyton this morning. You know, these things happen and Lleyton was very understanding. If I could have played I would be out there."
The recurrence of an old injury could also keep Molik out of the Australian Open which begins on January 19. "I will play when my foot it better. Whether that is in a week or in a couple of months I just don't know.
"I am going back to Melbourne today to see my doctor and we will take it from there." The Slovaks, with a win over qualifiers Hungary and victory over Australia when Molik pulled out last night, will face the US after Lindsay Davenport secured their spot on Friday.
The former world number one comfortably beat Anastasia Myskina 6-4 6-4 in the opening match of America's clash against Russia. Under the rules of the mixed team competition, Russia had needed to sweep the U.S. without losing a set to pip their rivals into the final.
In any case, the U.S. clinched victory when Blake beat Marat Safin 6-7 7-6 6-4 in a contest which featured some sublime strokeplay. The Americans then teamed up to win the mixed 7-5 6-4.
In the day's other clash, France beat the Czech Republic 2-1. Amelie Mauresmo beat Barbora Strycova 6-3 6-4 before Jiri Novak hit back with a 6-1 4-6 6-2 victory over Fabrice Santoro. The French pair took the doubles 6-3 6-4.
Results:
U.S. beat Russia 3-0
Scores (U.S. names first): James Blake beat Marat Safin 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4; Lindsay Davenport beat Anastasia Myskina 6-4 6-4; Davenport/Blake beat Myskina/Safin 7-5 6-4
France beat Czech Republic 2-1
Scores (French names first): Fabrice Santoro lost to Jiri Novak 1-6 6-4 2-6; Amelie Mauresmo beat Barbora Strycova 6-3 6-4; Santoro/Mauresmo beat Novak/Strycova 6-3 6-4
Sugiyama in final
GOLD COAST (Australia): Japan's Ai Sugiyama and Russia's Nadia Petrova will meet in Saturday's final of the Australian women's hardcourt championship after winning their semifinals on Friday.
Top seed Sugiyama recovered from a second set lapse in concentration to beat Australian wild card Samantha Stosur 7-5 3-6 6-3 while Petrova defeated defending champion Nathalie Dechy of France 7-6 6-4.
Sugiyama, who climbed into the world's top 10 for the first time at the end of last year, is striving for her second Australian women's hardcourt title after previously winning in 1998.
Results: Ai Sugiyama (Japan) bt Samantha Stosur (Australia) 7-5 3-6 6-3; Nadia Petrova (Russia) bt Nathalie Dechy (France) 7-6 (7-1) 6-4
HARDCOURT RESULTS
ADELAIDE: Results from the 380,000 US dollar Australian Men's Hardcourt Championships:
Quarterfinals: Jarkko Nieminen (FIN x6) bt Todd Reid (AUS) 6-2, 7-5; Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) bt Cyril Saulnier (FRA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/1); Michael Llodra (FRA) bt Vince Spadea (USA x2) 6-4, 6-2; Taylor Dent (USA x5) bt Thomas Johansson (SWE) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2.
Qatar Open results
DOHA: Semifinal results from the $1 million Qatar Open Tennis Tournament on Friday.
Nicolas Escude (France) bt Agustin Calleri (Argentina) 6-2 6-3; Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) bt Tim Henman (Britain) 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-5).-Reuters/AFP