Daria has battling victory in lost tie

AUSTRALIA’S Hopman Cup title defence crumpled in a heap, but world No.25 Daria Gavrilova salvaged something from the wreck with a fighting win over American Coco Vandeweghe on Thursday night.

Gavrilova’s game was under the spotlight after she put in substandard displays in upset losses to world No.66 Lara Arruabarrena and world No.166 Lucie Hradecka in Australia’s opening two ties.

But she bounced back to form with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win over world No.36 Vandeweghe at Perth Arena on Thursday night. Australia still lost the tie 2-1. But Gavrilova said her singles win gave her an important boost heading into the Sydney International, which starts tomorrow.

“I really wanted to get that win, because coming into Sydney next week without winning a match is not the best feeling,” Gavrilova said.

“I played two three-setters, and that’s good for my match conditioning. Overall I’m happy with my week.

“I felt like I played a lot better than my first match.

“Tonight, I think it all paid off. All the hard work, and thinking positive.”

Meanwhile, Germany have ended their Hopman Cup campaign on a high, edging out Great Britain 2-1 after prevailing in the deciding mixed doubles.

Heather Watson gave Great Britain a perfect start with a 6-2 7-6 (7-3) win over Andrea Petkovic.

But rising star Alexander Zverev levelled the tie at 1-1 with a 6-4 6-3 defeat of Dan Evans, before Germany won the Fast4 mixed doubles 4-2 4-2.

Germany’s win wasn’t enough to secure them a spot in today’s final, with 2-1 losses to France and Switzerland costing them any chance of silverware.

But Zverev was happy at least to walk away on a positive note. “We finally got a win. If we had played mixed doubles like we did today, we maybe would have gotten more than one win,” Zverev said.