United States, Netherlands lead Hopman Cup groups

The United States battled back from the loss of the first singles match to overcome Russia 2-1 in round-robin competition at the Hopman Cup yesterday.

The victory was the second for the United States in Group A of the mixed team tournament after they had defeated Serbia and Montenegro by the same score on Sunday.

The Netherlands kept on track to top Group B after adding a 2-1 victory over Australia to their earlier win against Argentina.

Svetlana Kuznetsova gave Russia the lead against the US by beating Lisa Raymond 6-4 6-1 but Taylor Dent responded for the Americans, defeating Yuri Schukin 6-2 6-0 before the pair teamed up to clinch the tie with a 6-4 6-1 mixed doubles victory.

Kuznetsova made a sluggish start, allowing Raymond to hold points to win the first five games by exploiting the lack of depth in the Russian's shots and her succession of unforced errors.

However, the American was only able to convert on one of her eight break points in the match, in the opening game, and Kuznetsova seized on the profligacy to turn the contest around.

Putting more weight into her shots and finding the range with her serve, Kuznetsova was able to break back and level at 3-3 and then broke again for the set with a winning lob.

In the second set, Kuznetsova held off four break points to lead 1-0, broke with a stunning forehand winner down the line to lead 2-0 and then broke to love to lead 5-1 before finishing with her ninth ace.

The Russian said: "I had not played since Zurich in October so I was a bit stiff at the start and nervous and made a lot of mistakes. But then I got my game going and I was pretty happy out there."

Dent began as an overwhelming favourite against 299th-ranked Schukin, who was the third choice for Russia after injuries to Marat Safin and Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Although the American was put under some pressure in the first game, holding off three break points, he soon took control and allowed Schukin just three points in the final four games of the opening set.

Dominating with his serve and pressuring his opponent from the net, Dent found little resistance in the second set and Schukin earned only three points on serve.

In the Netherlands vs Australia clash, Samantha Stosur edged to a 6-4 7-6 win over Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek before Peter Wessels levelled by beating Todd Reid 7-5 6-4.

The greater fire-power of the Dutch pair then earned a 6-4 6-2 win in the mixed doubles.