Australia Beats Britain in Tennis’ Hopman Cup

Pat Cash won two matches today to lead Australia to a 2-1 victory over Britain in the opening series of the Hopman Cup team tennis championship.

Cash defeated Jeremy Bates, 6-1, 6-1, in the men’s singles and then teamed with Liz Smylie to beat Bates and Sarah Loosemore, 6-4, 6-2, in the mixed doubles.

Loosemore earlier beat Smylie, 6-4, 6-3, in the opening women’s singles to give Britain a 1-0 lead.

Australia, the No. 5 seed in the 12-nation event, earned a quarterfinal berth against Switzerland, the No. 3 seed.

The top four teams, headed by the United States, all were granted first round byes.