Russia hot favourites to win first Hopman Cup title

Marat Safin and Anastasia Myskina, the only grand slam champions in the eight-team field, will be hot favourites to win Russia's first Hopman Cup when the ITF mixed team event gets underway today.

With a knee injury keeping women's world no.1 Lindsay Davenport from joining James Blake for the US, the Russian duo are odds on to triumph in Perth.

While world no.4 Safin was only due in Western Australia yesterday after collecting an award from the Russian government, Myskina arrived 'down under' early in an effort to avoid a repeat of 2004 when she and Safin failed to make it through the group stage.

Safin also lost in the group stage on his only other appearance, in 2001.

"Hopefully, me and Marat will do our best here because last year we lost and it was because of me most of the time," smiled Myskina, who won her first grand slam title at the French Open last year.

Russia will take on Argentina, Italy and Germany in Group A of the round robin stage, while the US will face the Slovak Republic, Australia and the Netherlands, who beat Zimbabwe in a play-off yesterday, in Group B.

Guillermo Coria and Gisela Dulko lead Argentina's challenge, while Tommy Haas spearheads Germany's title bid after he regained his place in the world's top 20 in 2004 after more than a year out with a shoulder injury.

Meghann Shaughnessy replaces Davenport in the US team as they try to win the event for a fifth time.

Argentina take on Italy in the opening first-round match today.