Past Results - Hopman Cup V (2nd - 8th January 1993)
The world's No. 1 female tennis player in Germany's queen of the
courts Steffi Graf was back again and this time it was going to be
third time lucky.
Injury and illness had hampered Steffi's previous two visits to
Perth for the Hopman Cup and this year she was partnered by Germany's
latest Wimbledon champion, Michael Stich.
The arrival in Perth of the entertaining Stich at least threw a
hoodoo off the backs of the Hopman Cup people. He was the third Hopman
Cup nominated player to win the $2-million Grand Slam Cup at the
end of the year, but the first to actually make it to Perth, with
previous winners Pete Sampras and David Wheaton both forced to cancel
their Cup plans at the last minute due to injury.
Naturally the, Germans were the No. 1 seeds, getting that honour
ahead of Jana Novotna and Petr Korda, who were proudly flying the
flag of their new nation, the Czech Republic, after the break up
of the old Czechoslovakia, winners of the inaugural Hopman Cup.
The ever-popular Sanchezes, Emilio and Arantxa, were back with a
Hopman Cup to their credit and the event also welcomed back South
Africa into the international sporting arena, competing as a nation
in Australia for the first time in 28 years; a proud moment for Amanda
Coetzer and Wayne Ferreira.
The Aussie pair of Nicole Provis and Wally Masur made their debuts
and also new to the scene were a loveable young family double from
the Ukraine, Andrei Medvedev and his sister Natalia.
Australia opened the programme with Provis saving a match point
before upsetting Coetzer and her own tournament schedule, as she
had to postpone her right to defend a tournament in Brisbane with
her Hopman Cup progress winning a tight cliff-hanger, 6-7, 7-5, 7-6.
Masur cleaned up the tough Ferreira 7-5, 6-3 and the Aussies were
through.
Ukraine overcame a singles loss by Natalia Medvedeva to seasoned
Austrian Judith Wiesner, but little brother Andrei made up for it
with a gutsy win over Thomas Muster, 6-4, 7-6. The family affair
won the doubles 6-2 in the third.
Japan were back again and rising young star Kimiko Date made it
two in a row as she backed up her debut win over Helena Sukova with
a 6-3, 6-2 victory against the much-more-experienced Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere.
However, Claudio Mezzadri balanced things up for the Switzerland
team with a three-setter against Yasufumi Yamamoto, with the Swiss
then proving too polished in a three-set mixed doubles win.
French pair Guy Forget and Natalie Tauziat completed the quarter-finals
with a clean sweep against another new team, Israel's 16-year-old
Anna Smashnova and able craftsman Amos Mansdorf.
The Spanish armada rolled into the event in fine style with a 3-0
win against Switzerland, with both Emilio and Arantxa coming back
after dropping the opening set; Emilio doing it the hardest, 7-6
in a third-set tie-breaker.
American Mary Joe Fernandez made her HC debut a winning effort,
beating Tauziat after dropping the middle set in a tie-breaker. She
had been a late arrival and pushed through the pain barrier to defy
illness and fatigue. France levelled the scoreboard as Forget beat
big-serving MaliVai Washington, providing yet another mixed doubles
decider, which went to the French, 6-3, 6-2.
Graf was in fine touch as she beat Medvedeva and then came yet another
upset as Stich went down 5-7, 5-7 to Medvedev in a fiery contest
played at the highest standard. It was only the German class in the
mixed doubles that kept the top seeds alive.
Australia went down to the Czech Republic, but Spain showed they
wanted a second HC win when they disposed of the Czech Republic 2-1
in the semis, with the singles split as Korda balanced things up
with his win over Emilio. But again the family flavour was strong
as they won 7-5 in the third of a riveting mixed doubles.
Germany marched to their first finals appearance with Graf beating
Tauziat three and four, but Stich having to work overtime to beat
Forget 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 to put them into the final, with the big German
serving up an incredible seven successive aces to equal the world
record.
The stage was set former champions Spain and top seeds Germany;
the former team knowing what was needed for victory; the latter determined
to make up for a couple of unlucky previous attempts.
Steffi overcame an ankle injury to beat Arantxa in what was a world-class
match with the Queen reigning supreme, 6-4, 6-3. Stich then showed
his Wimbledon style to beat Emilio 7-5, 6-4 with breaks of service
a rarity and a most-enthusiastic Steffi climbed out of the players'
box to embrace her victorious compatriot.
Germany defaulted the mixed due to Steffi's injury, but at last
they were on the Hopman Cup honour board. Their victory had denied
Spain the chance of becoming the first nation to win the Cup for
a second time, leaving the scoreboard at five countries in five years.
Results
Hopman Cup V (2 January - 8 January 1993)
Seeds:
1. Germany: Michael Stich/Steffi Graf
2. Czech Republic: Petr Korda/Jana Novotna
3. Spain: Emilio Sanchez/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
4. USA: MaliVai Washington/Mary Joe Fernandez
5. France: Guy Forget/Nathalie Tauziat
6. South Africa: Wayne Ferreira/Amanda Coetzer
7. Austria: Thomas Muster/Judith Wiesner
8. Switzerland: Claudio Mezzadri/Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere
Unseeded:
Australia: Wally Masur/Nicole Provis
Japan: Yasufumi Yamamoto/Kimiko Date
Israel: Amos Mansdorf/Anna Smashnova
Ukraine: Andrei Medvedev/Natalia Medvedeva
Final:
Germany d. Spain 2-1:
Steffi Graf defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-4 6-3;
Michael Stich defeated Emilio Sanchez 7-5 6-3;
Sanchez/Sanchez Vicario defeated Stich/Graf - w/o.
(* Dead Rubbers - Pro Set)
Semi Finals:
Spain d. Czech Republic 2-1:
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario defeated Jana Novotna 6-3 6-3;
Petr Korda defeated Emilio Sanchez 6-3 6-4;
Sanchez/Sanchez Vicario defeated Korda/Novotna 3-6 6-3 7-5.
Germany d. France 2-1:
Steffi Graf defeated Nathalie Tauziat 6-3 6-4;
Michael Stich defeated Guy Forget 6-2 6-7 7-6;
Forget/Tauziat defeated Stich/Graf 2-4 Ret.
Quarter Finals:
Spain d. Switzerland 3-0:
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario defeated Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere 1-6 6-0
6-3;
Emilio Sanchez defeated Claudio Mezzadri 4-6 6-3 7-6;
Sanchez/Sanchez Vicario defeated Mezzadri/Maleeva-Fragniere 8-6*.
France d. USA 2-1:
Mary Joe Fernandez defeated Nathalie Tauziat 6-1 6-7 6-4;
Guy Forget defeated MaliVai Washington 6-3 6-4;
Forget/Tauziat defeated Washington/Fernandez 6-3 6-2.
Czech Republic d. Australia 2-1:
Nicole Provis defeated Jana Novotna 6-1 6-4;
Petr Korda defeated Wally Masur 7-6 6-4;
Korda/Novotna defeated Masur/Provis 6-2 7-6.
Germany d. Ukraine 2-1:
Steffi Graf defeated Natalia Medvedeva 6-2 6-1;
Andrei Medvedev defeated Michael Stich 7-5 7-5;
Stich/Graf defeated Medvedev/Medvedeva 7-5 6-3.
First Round:
Germany - Bye
Czech Republic - Bye
Spain - Bye
USA - Bye
Australia d. South Africa 3-0:
Nicole Provis defeated Amanda Coetzer 6-7 7-5 7-6;
Wally Masur defeated Wayne Ferreira 7-5 6-3;
Masur/Provis defeated Ferreira/Coetzer 8-6*.
Switzerland d. Japan 2-1:
Kimiko Date defeated Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere 6-3 6-2;
Claudio Mezzadri defeated Yasufumi Yamamoto 3-6 7-5 6-3;
Mezzadri/Maleeva-Fragniere defeated Yamamoto/Date 6-2 5-7 6-2.
Ukraine d. Austria 2-1:
Judith Wiesner defeated Natalia Medvedeva 6-1 6-4;
Andrei Medvedev defeated Thomas Muster 6-4 7-6;
Medvedev/Medvedeva defeated Muster/Wiesner 7-5 3-6 6-2.
France d. Israel 3-0:
Nathalie Tauziat d. Anna Smashnova 6-1 6-0;
Guy Forget defeated Amos Mansdorf 6-2 6-7 7-6;
Forget/Tauziat defeated Mansdorf/Smashnova 8-1*.
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