Poles’ position is enhanced thanks to sickly Italian

POLAND posted a 3-0 victory over Italy yesterday as the Hopman Cup began with Andreas Seppi quitting his singles match with illness.

The Italian’s decision handed substitute Grzegorz Panfil a 6-4 2-2 win over the experienced campaigner.

The result, combined with a 6-2 6-2 victory by Agnieszska Radwanska over Flavia Pennetta, assured Poland of the victory in round-robin play at the Perth arena.

The mixed doubles became a walkover win for the Poles.

Seppi’s halt came in the wake of a pair of pre-event pullouts at the eight-nation mixed team tournament.

Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz withdrew in the run-up with a foot injury, handing over a substitute’s spot to world No.288 Panfil.

On Friday, Spain’s Tommy Robredo pulled out with an arm injury to be replaced by Daniel Munoz-De La Nava.

Radwanska, a 2012 Wimbledon finalist, pronounced herself relatively pleased with her first match of the new season after what seemed for her to be a short off-season.

‘‘I was very glad to play a good in first match, I was happy to survive this match,’’ said Radwanska, adding she only got three hours of sleep after arriving in WA late on Friday night.

‘‘But it was worth it to have Christmas at home. My last event feels like I played it last week— here we go again.’’

The world No.5 has now won four of five meetings with Pennetta, ranked 31st, who also spent her holiday at home and complained of hayfever during her match.

‘‘She was like a wall, it was a tough match,’’ Pennetta said.