Russia, Argentina keep hopes alive

Top seeds Russia and Argentina remained in contention for a place in the Hopman Cup final after they secured 2-1 victories over their respective opponents yesterday.

Both nations had lost their opening round-robin ties before making amends yesterday, Russia ending Sweden's hopes of advancing any further in the team competition after edging past their Group A rivals in the mixed doubles.

Argentina also won the decisive mixed doubles encounter to beat Germany in Group B.

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Yuri Schukin beat Swedish pair Sofia Arvidsson and Thomas Johansson 6-3 7-5, while Argentine duo Gisela Dulko and Gaston Gaudio romped to a 7-5 6-0 win over Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Nicolas Kiefer.

After two series of round-robin play, a second-string US team and the unheralded Netherlands head their respective groups having won both of their two ties to date.

Kuznetsova fought back from a break down three times in the opening set to overcome Arvidsson 7-6 6-4, giving the top seeds an early lead, but Johansson levelled for Sweden after a 7-6 7-6 win over Schukin.

"I wasn't at my best today," said Kuznetsova.

"I didn't have a good feeling for the match. I did so many unforced errors and lost my concentration so many times but hopefully that will get better."

Russia will play Serbia & Montenegro in Group A today for a place in the final, while the US take on Sweden. In Group B, Argentina will play an eliminated Australian team and Germany face the Netherlands, with any one of three teams still able to qualify.

For the Argentines, Dulko took 57 minutes to sweep aside an injury-hampered Groenefeld 6-1 6-0 for her first Hopman Cup singles win in six attempts.

Gaudio's hangover from his 6-0 6-0 defeat by Roger Federer during the Masters Cup at the end of last season continued as he lost his second match of the week.

The highest-ranked player to compete at the event, 10th-placed Gaudio slumped 6-3 6-3 against Kiefer, who dominated with an athletic performance that produced 13 aces.

In contrast, Gaudio hit three double-faults in his opening service game and was broken at 1-0, and he foot-faulted at 2-2 to go down a break in the second set. A third break in the last game earned Kiefer a comfortable victory.