New look Aussie team double-up for tilt at Hopman Cup

A new look Australian combination of Samantha Stosur and Wayne Arthurs form a formidable doubles combination and are likely to rely on this if they are to make the final of Hopman Cup XVIII.

Arthurs has had a mixed 2005 with a singles record consisting of more losses than wins, but was still able to claim his first ATP Tour singles title at Scottsdale.

In doubles, Arthurs won two Tour titles, was a finalist at two other events, and qualified for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.

Stosur enjoyed a solid start to 2005 where she reached the final at both the Gold Coast and the Medibank International in Sydney.

In doubles, the 21-year-old has captured six titles this year, including the US Open with Lisa Raymond, who is representing the US at this year’s Hopman Cup, as well as capturing her first Grand Slam title in the Australian Open mixed doubles with fellow Australian Scott Draper.

Stosur replaces Australia’s highest-ranked woman, Alicia Molik, who was forced to withdraw due to an ongoing inner-ear infection.

The third-seeded Australians open their Hopman Cup campaign on Saturday December 31 against a German pairing of Anna-Lena Groenefeld, ranked 21 in the world, and Nicolas Kiefer, who is number 23 on the ATP Tour.

If Australia is to make the final on January 6, they will also need to beat the number two seeds, Argentina, who boast the 26th ranked Gisela Dulko and number 10 ranked Gaston Gaudio.

The final spot in Group B will be determined in a tournament-opening play-off match between China and The Netherlands.

Russia have been given the number one seeds, but will miss the talent of their finest male player, Marat Safin, who was forced to withdrawal due to continuing knee problems.

132nd ranked 20-year-old Teimuraz Gabashvili has been called in to fill Safin’s big shoes, but he will be well supported by fellow 20-year-old and 2004 US Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is currently 18 in the world but has been as high as number four.

Group A appears to be the stronger of the two groups with Russia joined by a strong US team of Lisa Raymond and Taylor Dent, a young Serbia and Montenegro side of Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic that has great potential, and a Swedish line-up that possesses 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson and an up-and-coming Sofia Arvidsson.

Adding to the excitement of this innovative tournament is the introduction of the utilisation of the Hawk-Eye Officiating.

Rather than only being a guide for television viewers and an analytical tool for commentators, this revolutionary tennis technology has received the go ahead from the ITF, allowing players to challenge point ending line calls similar to the case at clay court events.

This year’s Hopman Cup Mixed Team Championships begins on December 30 at Perth’s Burswood Dome.

Group A:
Russia (1) – Svetlana Kuznetsova, Teimuraz Gabashvil
USA (4) – Lisa Raymond, Taylor Dent
Sweden – Sofia Arvidsson, Thomas Johansson
Serbia and Montenegro – Ana Ivanovic, Novak Djokovic

Group B:
Argentina (2) – Gisela Dulko, Gaston Gaudio
Australia (3) – Samantha Stosur, Wayne Arthurs
Germany – Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Nicolas Kiefer

Qualifying team:
China – Shuai Peng, Peng Sun - or -
Netherlands – Michaella Krajicek, Peter Wessels

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