Spain win the Hopman Cup

Great Britain's world No.4 Andy Murray broke a promise as Spain soared to their
third Hopman Cup title in Perth on Saturday with a thrilling win in the mixed
doubles.
Great Britain were on the verge of securing the title after 15-year-old Laura Robson
upset Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-1 7-6 (8-6) and Murray raced through the first
set against Tommy Robredo 6-1.
But Murray's game imploded from late in the second set, with a series of unforced
errors gifting Robredo the 1-6 6-4 6-3 win.
The title came down to the mixed doubles and it was Spain who prevailed in a
nail-biter, Robredo hitting the winning shot in the 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 triumph with a
backhand down the line on Spain's third championship point.
The win nets Spain $250,000, while Robredo and Martinez Sanchez will also receive a
diamond-encrusted ball each.
On the eve of the final, Murray declared "I'm not going to lose" when asked about
the possibility of either him or Robson dropping their singles rubber.
Those words came back to haunt him as he committed 29 unforced errors and converted
just two of 11 break points in his first loss of the tournament.
"I'm so happy because Andy is one of the great players in the world right now and
beating him at the beginning of the year is going to give me a lot of confidence,"
Robredo said after his singles win.
"After 6-1 for Andy (in the first set) he was playing amazing and I was only hoping
to keep playing to enjoy the match.
"I just tried my best and kept going.
"I was just watching the diamond ball (trophy) and I was pushing hard because I
really would love to have one more."
Robredo now has two diamond balls in his collection after winning the title with
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 2002.
Robson, who had lost all three of her singles encounters entering the final, was
ruthless in the first set against Martinez Sanchez, breaking the Spaniard twice to
take the opener in 28 minutes.
But the Melbourne-born teenager suffered from a bout of nerves after setting up four
match points in the second-set tiebreak.
Martinez Sanchez saved them all but Robson managed to gain another, sealing the win
with her 28th winner, a perfectly-timed cross-court backhand.
"I was pretty nervous at the end but I just tried to keep going for my shots,"
Robson said.
"From when I was 6-3 up (in the tiebreak) she started going for her shots.
"At 6-6 I was just like 'ok, just go for your shots'."
Robson, who won the Wimbledon junior singles crown at the age of 14, received some
good news after the final when it was confirmed she had been handed a wildcard
through to the Australian Open qualifying event, which starts on January 14.