Dutch Qualify for Hopman Cup

The Netherlands have qualified for the 18th edition of the Hopman Cup with a hard fought 2-1 victory over China this afternoon at the Burswood Dome in Perth.

China drew first blood courtesy of Shuai Peng’s 6-3 4-6 6-3 win over Michaella Krajicek, but the Dutch came back strongly with Peter Wessels levelling proceedings with a 6-2 6-2 defeat of Peng Sun to set up a winner takes all mixed doubles rubber which the Netherlands twosome were able to triumph in 6-4 6-4.

China got off to a dream start in their effort to gain the last spot in the draw when Shaui Peng, a Hopman Cup debutant, broke Krajicek to start the match and then did so again in the fifth game to race to an early 4-1 lead.

Krajicek, the younger sister of former Wimbledon champion Richard, got herself back into the set though, breaking Peng in the next game and then holding her serve to trail 4-3, but the Chinese world no.37 made sure that is where the comeback would end holding here serve comfortably and then breaking the Dutchwoman to take the opening set 6-3.

A slight lapse in concentration from Peng to start the second set gave Krajicek the early break and that was all the she would need as the Dutch world no.58 held serve five straight times to close out the second set 6-4.

With the pressure on, both players managed to hold onto their serve through the first seven games of the deciding set, but in the eighth game Krajicek was the first to crack getting broken to love to hand Peng a 5-3 lead.

The Chinese 19 year old showed no signs of nerves serving for the match, holding easily to take the set 6-3 and in the process register her first ever win at the Hopman Cup.

Knowing a loss would see the Dutch make a premature exit from the Hopman Cup, Peter Wessels played a near flawless match breaking Peng Sun twice in both sets to race through the contest 6-2 6-2 in just under one hour to extend the tie to a third rubber.

China started like a shot out of a gun in the mixed doubles jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, but from that point on they would find themselves well and truly outmatched as the Dutch duo won six of the next eight games to take the first set 6-4.

The Netherlands domination continued in the second set breaking early to establish a 3-1 lead and from that point on it was smooth sailing for the Dutch pair who cruised home to take the set 6-4.

A tough task now awaits the Netherlands if they are to claim their first ever Hopman Cup title as they must now face Australia, Argentina and Germany in their three pool matches over the coming week.

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