Spain cruise into Hopman final

SPAIN qualified for their fifth Hopman Cup final by defeating top seeds Australia 3-0 in their final group tie in Perth yesterday.

The Spanish pairing of Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Tommy Robredo maintained their unbeaten record in the cup with straight-set wins over Sam Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt.

After winning their opening two ties, the fourth seeds needed only to claim a single set against the hosts, but won the group emphatically and rounded off with a 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 mixed doubles success.

Martinez Sanchez’s exceptional touch at the net proved too much for world No13 Stosur as she won 6-4, 6-1. Robredo then posted a 6-2, 6-4 win over Hewitt, who was troubled by a back injury.

The United States beat Romania 3-0 in the other Group A fixture. Melanie Oudin beat Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-3 while Romania forfeited the the men’s singles and mixed doubles because of a groin injury to Victor Hanescu in an earlier match.