GREAT BRITAIN’S Hopman Cup campaign got off to a disappointing start yesterday with Andy Murray and Laura Robson losing to Italy by the narrowest of margins.
After Robson lost to French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-5 6-3, Murray overcame Potito Starace in straight sets to set up a deciding mixed doubles. The first two sets were shared with the Italians winning on a champions’ tie-break.
The result means Great Britain need to beat France tomorrow to stand a realistic chance of progressing in this event which acts as a warm-up for the season-opening grand slam in Melbourne. Robson battled hard against Schiavone despite suffering from dizziness and earache but her opponent’s experience finally counted.
World number four Murray levelled things up with a 7-5 6-1 win over Starace but admitted afterwards he had been struggling physically in the Perth heat in his first match of 2011.
“It was a tough match today. It’s so hot, so humid in here I was struggling a little bit with my breathing, but it was really good atmosphere and great on a Monday to have a full crowd,” 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, but that’s the goal to try and beat those guys in the big events and try and win my first grand slam.”
The gruelling nature of the tie continued with the first two sets of the mixed going all the way before Italy ran through the champions’ tie-break to win 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (10/2).
