Belgium beat Japan in Hopman Cup play-off

Belgium beat Japan in Hopman Cup play-off
Agence France Presse

Perth, December 30: Belgium defeated Japan in the crucial mixed doubles to sweep into the main draw of the $million Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament at Burswood Dome here today.

Belgium's Olivier Rochus and Kim Clijsters beat Takaosuzuki and Ai Sugiyama6-4, 6-4 in the decisive doubles after the singles clashes had been shared.

Clijsters gave Belgium a wonderful start when she overcame Sugiyama 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4 in the women's singles.

But Suzuki made it all square when he overpowered Rochus 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the men's singles.

The Belgian pair will now play Russia (Marat Safin/Elena Likhovtseva) on Monday, Slovak Republic (Dominik Hrbaty/Karina Habsudova) on Tuesday and the United States (Jan-Michael Gambill/Monica Seles) on Thursday.

It was the second year in succession that the Japanese pair had failed in a play-off for the right to compete in the Hopman Cup main draw.

Last year they were beaten by Thailand's Paradornsrichaphan and Tamarine Tanasugarn, who advanced to the final in fairytale fashion before being beaten by South Africans Wayne Ferreira and Amanda Coetzer.