Black Tennis Pros

Session 5 - USA 3 defeating Czech Republic 0

• Serena Williams d Lucie Safarova 6-0, 2-6, 7-5 (Time: 111 minutes, Umpire: Alison Lang)
• Williams/Fish d Safarova/Berdych 6-0 retired
• Mardy Fish d Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-0 walkover
  
  

Lucie Safarova has been unwell for a couple of days and Tomas Berdych pulled up with a stomach virus overnight, forcing the mixed doubles to be played before the men’s singles in order to give him the best chance of recovering.

The world No. 14 managed to make it onto court for the doubles, but Berdych was clearly hampered by his illness as Serena Williams and Mardy Fish took the first set 6-0.

Berdych then decided he could not continue, giving the Americans a 3-0 win for the tie.

The United States are now ideally placed to make its ninth final and the chance at a fifth win at the Hyundai Hopman Cup when it plays Australia on Thursday.

The 112-minute battle with Serena wasn’t what Safarova would have hoped for if she was not feeling well, but she took it right up to the world No. 7 and current Australian Open champion.

Serena made an amazing start after missing her opening match on Saturday and being in Perth just a day before taking on Safarova. However, no jetlag problems were evident as she blew Safarova off the court to take the opening set 6-0.

Safarova isn’t ranked 23 in the world by chance, though, and she fought back tremendously to take the second 6-2 and force a third and deciding set.

While the first two sets were lopsided either way, the decider was a real fight. Safarova broke first to go to a 4-2 lead, but Serena broke back straight away to take it to 4-4.

Serena then showed that she is in tremendous shape and form by breaking Safarova to go up 6-5, then held serve to win the gruelling tussle.

Fish and Williams were well on top in the only set of the doubles, with Berdych in particular struggling with his fitness.


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