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Australia punted from Hopman Cup

Australia have lost their Hopman Cup tie against Italy 2-1 after Bernard Tomic and Sam Stosur dropped their mixed doubles match against Andreas Seppi and Flavia Pennetta.

The match was fairly one-sided, as the more experienced Italian pairing had the number of the Australian’s for the majority of the match and eventually ran out 6-3, 6-4 winners.

Australia is now out of Hopman Cup contention, after Stosur lost her singles tie against Pennetta and despite Tomic winning his against Seppi.

Tomic beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to level the tie at 1-1 after Sam Stosur slumped to a 6-4 6-4 loss to Flavia Pennetta.

Australia, who lost to Canada 2-1 in their opening tie, needed to beat Italy if they were to reach the final of the mixed teams event.

Tomic said he was tired after training for five hours on Monday and another two hours before his match against Seppi. The world No.51 looked ‘proppy’ in the second set, but rediscovered his mojo to seal the match in 102 minutes.

“I started slow but it was very good tennis,” Tomic said. “Yesterday I trained a lot so I was very tired.”

Sam Stosur remains positive after losing her Hopman Cup match to Flavia Pennetta Pennetta’s 6-4, 6-4.

After the Italian world number 31 won the first set Stosur fought hard in the second set, but in the ninth game of the second set world number 18 Stosur served three double-faults to eventually give Pennetta the break and the chance to serve for the match.

Stosur’s loss to Pennetta follows her defeat by Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard on Saturday and comes just two weeks before the Australian Open.

Stosur says she’s frustrated but not despondent after slumping to consecutive Hopman Cup defeats.

The 2011 US Open champion has famously struggled to find form during the home tennis summer in recent years, but says there’s no need to panic just yet ahead of next month’s Australian Open.

“It’s disappointing not to get a win again. But I thought I played some good tennis,” Stosur said.

“Time on court is the most important thing at the moment and that’s why this tournament is so great.

“I’m still pretty happy with the way I’m hitting the ball.

“There’s room for improvement, but I don’t think it’s the worst start I’ve ever had.”

Stosur has now lost all five of her meetings with Pennetta, who is ranked 13 places behind the world No.18 Australian.

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