PERTH: Venus Williams and John Isner led the United States to a 2-1 victory over South Africa at the Hopman Cup mixed team competition on Sunday.
Williams rallied to defeat 60th-ranked Chanelle Scheepers 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. After Kevin Anderson beat Isner 7-6 (0), 7-6 (5), the match came down to mixed doubles. Williams and Isner beat the South Africans 6-3, 6-2 to clinch victory. Williams was playing for the first time since winning at Luxembourg in mid-October.
”I was just trying to find some rhythm out there,” she said. ”I’m not expecting to be perfect now, but I’m thinking that my game will get better. I think the doubles will help to hone everything. More than anything I was just so excited to be out there playing, and I’m ready to go for it.”
Spain beat France 2-1 after Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues won the mixed doubles against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mathilde Johansson.
Tsonga beat Verdasco 7-5, 6-3 in the singles, and Medina Garrigues defeated Johansson 6-3, 6-2.
On Monday, top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic represent Serbia against the Italy’s Andreas Seppi and Francesca Schiavone. (AP)
