Perth, Jan 5 (DPA) Double Grand Slam champions Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt combined in lethal fashion Tuesday to knock the US out of the race at the Hopman Cup mixed teams event 2-0.
The Australians – Stosur owns a pair of doubles titles at the majors while Hewitt won Wimbledon and the US Open singles – now need to sweep the Group A tie in the concluding mixed doubles rubber to be assured of carrying on unhindered.
Australia have claimed the trophy only once in 1999 at the eight-nation event which serves as a tuneup for the Australian Open starting in less than a fortnight.
Victory was sweet for Hewitt, who had not played on a tie-winning team in six years at the hybrid event.
Stosur, 13th in the world in singles and a doubles powerhouse on the WTA, began the rout of the five-time champion US by crushing Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-4. Hewitt carried on as he blew past the serve of 2.06-metre John Isner 6-1, 7-5.
The loss eliminates the Americans, who dropped their opening tie at the Burswood Dome 3-0 to Spain. Australia were beaten on opening day by Romania.
Hewitt withstood 13 aces from Isner and showed the big man who was boss by rolling to a 5-0 lead in a quarter of an hour on the way to victory.
“I didn’t do a whole lot wrong today,” admitted the former number one. “It’s as well as I’ve served in a long time. I’m pretty happy.
“I had beaten him in the Shanghai first round at my last event of the season. I won in straight sets and felt comfortable with his game.”
The Australian broke twice and grabbed the early lead without hesitation before Isner stiffened to make a match of it.
“I played extremely well,” Hewitt said. “I returned well and made him play a lot of balls. I was on his serve right from the start.
“I got the early jump on him which was huge.”
Stosur increased the Perth heartbreak for teenaged Oudin, who has flopped since her US Open quarter-final which thrilled a nation.
The 18-year-old has won only a single match since her breakthrough.
Stosur showed no mercy in her quick-fire destruction, firing 14 aces. “I played well today, I’m very happy. Today I finished it off (after losing a lead in her opening contest). I played pretty well first point to last.
“I’m feeling really good about my game. I tried to mix up the serve going for her body and keep in her guessing,” she said.
In the evening tie, Spain take on Romania.