PERTH, Australia - Bidding for an unprecedented
third straight title at the Hopman Cup, the United States
opened play in the $1 million mixed tennis event Tuesday
with a victory over The Netherlands.
Meghann Shaughnessy and James Blake each won their singles
matches, giving the Americans a 2-1 victory over the Dutch.
Filling in for injured Lindsay Davenport, who was forced out
of the competition with a knee injury, Shaughnessy defeated
15-year-old Michaella Krajicek, 7-5, 6-4. Krajicek is the
world's top-ranked junior player and sister of former Wimbledon
champion Richard Krajicek.
Blake, trying to rebound from a turbulent season in 2004,
clinched the tie with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Peter
Wessels.
Having slipped to 97th in the world, Blake fractured a vetebra
in his neck in May when he tumbled into the net while practicing
for the Masters tournament in Rome. In September, Blake's
season ended when he contracted a virus that left him weak and
with blurred vision. Blake lost his father in July due to
cancer.
With the outcome of the match decided, The Netherlands avoided
a sweep as the doubles tandem of Krajicek and Wessels defeated
Shaughnessy and Blake, 7-5, 7-5.
In Tuesday's other match in the round-robin event, Germany
defeated Italy, 2-1. The Germans won their second tie after
upsetting top seed Russia in their first match. Italy dropped
to 0-2.
The event features eight countries divided into two groups. Each
country plays three matches, and the winners of each group meet in
the final on Sunday.
This event does not award ATP or WTA points but is recognized by
the International Tennis Federation.