IN BRIEF : Mandlikova Loses--for Australia

Hana Mandlikova, playing her first match for Australia, lost to 17-year-old Sarah Loosemore of Britain 6-1, 6-2 today in the opening round of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament.

Mandlikova, who became an Australian citizen last January, was playing for the first time since Wimbledon. The Czech national had been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Mandlikova teamed with Pat Cash in the mixed doubles, beating Jeremy Bates and Loosemore 6-4, 7-5. Loosemore was a late replacement in the tournament for the injured Anne Hobbs.

Cash, playing his sixth match after a four-month layoff caused by an injury, beat Bates 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

The Hopman Cup, not a grand prix event, is being contested by teams of two players from eight nations. Each player has a singles and a mixed doubles match.