INDIA, which enjoyed surprising success in the Hopman Cup last year, has been confirmed as the fourth team for the eight-team tournament in Perth this year.
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna qualified for the annual mixed teams tennis tournament last year by winning the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup. The pair then toppled both Croatia and the Czech Republic before a loss to Spain prevented them reaching the final.
Tournament director Paul McNamee said today that he had invited India directly into the field for the 20th Hopman Cup, starting on December 29, joining Serbia, the Czech Republic and France.
“It’s just reward for their challenge last year and for Sania’s considerable progress this year,” McNamee said.
“Sania Mirza is a bona fide superstar in India and at only 19 years of age is on target to reach her goal of being the first Indian woman in the top 20.”
A strong US hardcourt campaign, which included wins over Tatiana Golovin, Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, Shahar Peer and Patty Schneider, has Mirza sitting at No.27 in the world rankings.
Bopanna has enjoyed a successful year on the Challenger circuit, winning a singles tournament in Dublin. He has also won five doubles titles to claim an ATP doubles ranking of No.86.
Bopanna’s doubles prowess ensured that he and Mirza were unbeaten in doubles at the 2006 Hopman Cup.
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