Murray wins to tie Hopman Cup with Germany at 1-1

Britain, Germany tied at Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia — Britain’s Andy Murray and 15-year-old Laura Robson won their mixed doubles match Wednesday to clinch a 2-1 victory over Germany at the Hopman Cup.

Murray and Robson beat Sabine Lisicki and Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2 in the deciding doubles match after Murray had beaten Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2 in the singles and Lisicki downed Robson 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the women’s match.

Britain is 2-0 and strongly placed to make Saturday’s final in the eight-country tournament. Germany dropped to 0-2. Group B rival Russia (1-0) will face Kazakhstan later Wednesday. If Russia wins, the match Friday between Britain and Russia will decide a berth in the final.

Although Robson has failed to win either of her singles matches, she’s played strongly in both of Britain’s mixed doubles victories. That was particularly good Wednesday, when she hit stinging passing shots and made some well-timed lobs.

“I think I definitely carried him today. My back is sore,” Robson joked as Murray stood beside her at a post-match television interview.

Murray opened the second set of his singles match by holding serve, then broke Kohlschreiber to love in the next game, with the German double-faulting on game point. From there, Murray overpowered Kohlschreiber for successive wins in the season-opening Hopman Cup.

“I didn’t really give him too many chances on my serve,” Murray said. “I was happy to get it over quickly. … That was the main difference, he didn’t make too many first serves and I was able to capitalize when it was on the second.”

Australia-born Robson served for the first set at 5-4 but was broken by Lisicki, who also came from behind in the tiebreaker to take the advantage.

The No. 22-ranked Lisicki also beat Elena Dementieva of Russia in straight sets Monday.

“It’s different to play against a lefty,” Lisicki said. “I haven’t played a lefty in a while but after the first set I got used to it pretty well and got into my game.

“I made too many easy mistakes (in the first set) and that’s why I got broken. But I kept fighting and knew I could came back and I came back pretty strong.”

Spain (2-0) leads Group A and will play Australia (1-1) on Thursday. Romania (1-1) plays the United States (0-2) in the other Group A match.