Hopman Cup competition is supposed to be relaxed event. It has nothing to do with either tour, but is a season-opening tradition which fans enjoy. This year, it has also been the source of quite a bit of drama. Serbia was undefeated, and therefore, in the final, but Ana Ivanovic sustained an injury and the Serbian team had to withdraw. Francesca Schiavone was also injured, and Yaroslava Shvedova was injured so badly that she will not play in the Australian Open.
Kristina Mladenovic will probably not soon forget this Hopman Cup, either. Her doubles partner, Nicolas Mahut, dressed in a women's Lacoste outfit (complete with fake breasts) just like Mladenovic's for an exhibition match between France and the USA. His ensemble wasn't all French, though--Bethanie Mattek-Sands supplied him with tube socks.
With Serbia out, Belgium will play the USA in the final. In the meantime, Ivanovic reports that she expects to be able to play in Melbourne.
(There was another incident this week worth mentioning, though it occurred in Brisbane. Jarmila Groth's coach was not with her, so Sam Groth, the ATP player who is also her husband, stepped in.
The pair engaged in a loud, unprintable argument during a break in her
match against Andrea Petkovic. Groth lost the match.)
Besides the injuries during the Hopman Cup, there were many pull-outs before it began: S. Williams, Darcis for Belgium, injured Monfils, possibly one other.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane. Firstly thank you, I really enjoy the blog. This is my first time commenting although I've been reading the blog for a year or so. Just a little correction - Jarmila Groth was playing in Brisbane not in the Hopman Cup in Perth. The conversation with her husband in the break was definitely colourful! :-) I really enjoyed the Hopman Cup this year despite all the injuries. The level of play was fantastic as was the quality of the players there. I wish they had more of these types of tournaments on the tour.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes--thanks for the catch, SarahDee. I'll correct that.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for reading.