Serena, Isner Put U.S. Into Hopman Cup Final

January 8, 2015 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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The United States’ duo of Serena Williams & John Isner needed to beat the Czech Republic 3-0 in order to reach the Hopman Cup finals on Saturday. The Americans did just that, sweeping all three matches on Thursday at the international mixed-doubles competition.

Williams got things started as she took on Lucie Safarova in the opening singles match. She rebounded from her drubbing at the hands of Eugenie Bouchard a day earlier, and took the first set 6-3 from Safarova.

She held a break advantage before the Czech rattled off four straight games to tighten the contest. After escaping the second set in a tiebreaker, the match would head into a deciding third-set.

The match stayed tight throughout the third set and headed into another tiebreaker. Serena would hang on and edge Safarova 8-6 in the breaker, giving the United States the first of the three wins it needed on Thursday.

“I feel like I’m getting back in the groove. I’m not moving as well as I was last year. But I’m going to try to improve that. I know I can, I’m getting there,” said Williams, who is trying to become the first player to win three Hopman Cup titles. “I needed that win. I was over losing to her in Perth. It feels really good to get through that.”

Next up, the U.S. needed Isner to beat Adam Pavlasek. The 6’10 American did just that, escaping the first set in a tiebreaker and cruising through the second for a 7-6(7-4), 6-2 victory.

He fired 20 aces in the match that lasted 67 minutes.

Finally, Serena & Isner would meet Safarova & Pavlasek in a mixed-doubles contest, with the winner advancing to the tournament’s final.

With momentum on their side, the Americans each notched their second win of the day, rolling past the Czech’s 6-3, 6-3 in the deciding match.

“I don’t know about that. We’re pretty good,” said Isner when asked if they are the best mixed doubles team ever. “Serena is arguably the best player of all time, so that doesn’t hurt.”

The United States will play either Great Britain, France or Poland in Saturday’s final. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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