Great Britain Reach Hopman Cup Final

Andy Murray and partner Laura Robson has claimed a place in the Hopman Cup final to face Spain.

Group B completed this matches in Perth today with Great Britain needing a win against Russia to reach the final.

But they faced tough opposition from Olympic Champion Elena Dementieva and Igor Andreev.

In the opening match fifteen year old Robson struggled against the experienced Dementieva as she lost in straight sets.

While she put up a good fight in the opening set Dementieva’s class and experience shone through in the second as Robson failed to get a game on the board.

Robson lost the match 6-4 6-0 to give Russia, who was also in with a chance of reaching the final, the upper hand and lead the tie 1-0.

But Murray once again levelled the match as an impressive display from the world number four as he dispatched Andreev 6-0 6-1 to take it down to the wire in the doubles.

And the match went the whole as both Great Britain and Russia tried to wrestle victory from their opponents but it was Robson who stood firm on the British side to help seal victory.

After sharing the first two sets it was Great Britain that snatched victory in 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 10-6 to set up a clash with Spain.

Speaking on court after the doubles match Murray said: "I have to say thanks to Laura because she played great.
 
"In the mixed, the guy is supposed to try to dominate and help the girl but every time I tried that we lost the point, so I left it to her after that."

Murray and Robson will now face the Spanish team of Tommy Robredo and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez who saw off Australia yesterday to reach the final.

They will play the final tomorrow.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw