Belgium defeated past Hopman Champions Spain

The match in Group A between Belgium and Spain could go either way after the two singles matches, although Spain was the favourites to win the mixed doubles with Virginia Ruano Pascual as the world champion in doubles. Spain was leading with a set and 4-2 in the second. The WTA World Champion Kim Clijsters didn’t feel like cooperating and was very much in charge to take the mixed double victory with a decisive tiebreak. Instead of a third set a first to 10 points tiebreak was played.

The replacement for Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario, Virginia Ruano Pascual, didn’t stand a change against her WTA colleague Kim Clijsters. The Belgium baseliner from Bree was hitting her groundstrokes all over the court.

After winning the WTA Championships where Clijsters beat both Serena and Venus Williams kept on working in Australia. She has been in Australia for the last month and she is feeling fit. She said that after the LA victory she wanted to work harder than ever to get fitter and stronger.

"I definitely don't feel any pressure there," Clijsters said. "I think it is more like a motivation for me. I hope that I can get other players to work harder and to get fitter, knowing that they (the sisters) are beatable. I am looking forward to Friday's match very much."

The Belgium 19 years old number 4 of the world, who might ask for Australian citizenship, is looking forward to meet one of the Williams sisters again. Clijsters will play against Serena Williams on Friday.

The team from the United States did defeat Uzbekistan. The USA did win 3-0, Iroda Tulyaganova lost 3-6 2-6 to Serena Williams. The Uzbek player from Tashkent did ask for an injury time out for treatment on her shoulder and elbow, which was bothering her in the last season.

Williams defeated Tulyaganova 6-3 6-2, James Blake needed three sets to beat Oleg Ogorodov 2-6 7-5 6-1. In the mixed doubles the USA took the victory 6-3 6-1

Belgium will meet Uzbekistan on Thursday. Photo by Bill Mitchell