• Hopman Cup

Murray and Robson fall to Italy

ESPN staff
January 3, 2011
Andy Murray and Laura Robson reached the Hopman Cup final last year © Getty Images
Enlarge

Andy Murray kicked off the new season with a victory, but he and partner Laura Robson lost their opening Hopman Cup tie in Perth.

Murray levelled the scores after Robson was beaten by French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, but the second seeeds were narrowly beaten in the doubles.

Robson struggled with dizziness and earache in the humid conditions of the Burswood Dome, but battled hard against world No. 7 Schiavone, who claimed a 7-5 6-3 victory. Murray kept Britain in the tie with a 7-5 6-1 win over Potito Starace, but admitted he had struggled with the conditions.

"It was a tough match today - it's so hot, so humid in here I was struggling a little bit with my breathing," Murray said "I didn't feel very fit today, I was breathing so hard after four or five games, so hopefully that will improve over the next couple of weeks."

With the result in the balance, the Italians clinched the victory 10-2 on a champions' tiebreak after a gruelling three-setter 6-7 (1) 7-6 (6) 7-6 (2).

Murray and Robson will now need to beat France on Wednesday if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive, while fourth seeds Schiavone and Starace will face USA, who beat France in the day's other tie.

In their first meeting since their 11-hour epic at Wimbledon last year, John Isner needed just 90 minutes to beat Nicolas Mahut 6-3 7-6(5) to give the USA an insurmountable 2-0 lead. Bethanie Mattek-Sands had earlier come from behind to beat Kristina Mladenovic 3-6 6-3 6-1.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices