Slovak Republic pair of Dominik Hrbaty and Dominika Cibulkova pulled off a major upset to win the $1-million ITF Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis championship in Perth’s Burswood Dome.
It was the Slovak nation’s 3rd Cup win in eight appearances at the international mixed teams championship.
The victory was clinched by Hrbaty in a thrilling singles battle, beating Russia’s Marat Safin, a former world No. 1, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). Earlier, Cibulkova had beaten world no. 3 Dinara Safina 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-4.
In a power-packed six hours of tennis, the Slovaks survived against higher-ranked opponents after both teams had gone into the final undefeated from their three round robin matches.
The 19-year-old Cibulkova, ranked 19 in the world, converted five of her 10 break point opportunities in her singles win and completed the week unbeaten in four matches, plus two mixed doubles.
Her partner, who celebrated his 31st birthday earlier in Cup week, survived numerous crisis moments as the powerful Safin blasted 22 aces past him.
The victory belied Hrbaty’s singles ranking of 252 after a career high of 14. Safin, ranked at 29 after a year of injury, has announced that this could well be his last year on Tour.
The Slovaks shared a winner’s prize of A$250,000, plus two diamond-encrusted tennis balls.
P.S. If you do not know the relationship between Cibulkova and Jurgen Melzer, click here.
(Via Hopman Cup official website; Images by Tony Ashby/AFP/Getty Images))
BRISBANE tennis fans may glimpse Novak Djokovic's glamour girlfriend Leryn Franco when the Serb takes to the court at the Brisbane International.
"A lot of these guys do travel with their girlfriends through to the Australian Open, so I guess there is every chance she could be here," said the tournament's director, Steve Ayles. "But I couldn't say for sure."
I can't believe this 'cheap' claims comes from the Brisbane tournament director. I mean Djokovic himself already denied the rumour at the recent U.S Open.
Another event's big drawcard, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be attending the Brisbane International too.
Ayles also confirmed that Tsonga, is desperate to check out Queensland's deep-sea fishing.
"He does love to fish so we're trying to organise a trip for him."
In the meanwhile here are some latest pictures of Djokovic at a welcoming evening at Bratislava, before the start of the Davis Cup match between Serbia and Slovakia. He was seen dancing with Slovakian singer Sisa Sklovska.
Updated: And here are more photos of Djokovic and his Serbian teammates and the Slovakian team.
Novak Djokovic leads the Serbian team.
Serbian tennis player Janko Tipsarevic is pictured at the press conference at the end of
the draw for of the Davis Cup World Group.
The Serbian tennis team (Left to right) Novak Djokovic, Bogdan Obradovic,
Janko Tipsarevic, and Viktor Troicki. 
(Left to right) Slovakia tennis team members Dominik Hrbaty, Lukas Lacko, and Milos Mecir, and Serbian tennis team players Bogdan Obradovic, Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki, and Nenad Zimonjic.
Tennis players Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia and Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
(Via couriermail.com.au, Images via Yahoo! Sport)
Slovak Republic pair of Dominik Hrbaty and Dominika Cibulkova pulled off a major upset to win the $1-million ITF Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis championship in Perth’s Burswood Dome.
In a power-packed six hours of tennis, the Slovaks survived against higher-ranked opponents after both teams had gone into the final undefeated from their three round robin matches.
