USA Tennis Wins and Collects 6th Hopman Cup Championship

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John Isner and Bethanie Mattek-Sands came together to take Belgium apart. Isner and Mattek-Sands swept Belgium's Justine Henin and Ruben Bemelmans, 6-3, 6-4, in the decisive mixed doubles match as the USA claimed its record-extending sixth Hopman Cup championship with a 2-1 win over Belgium in yesterday's final at the Burswood Dome in Perth.

The unseeded Americans completed an undefeated run in which they dominated Group B, beating France's Kristina Mladenovic and Nicolas Mahut 3-0, Italy's Francesca Schiavoneand Potito Starace 2-1 and Great Britain's Laura Robson and Andy Murray 2-1.

''It’s been an amazing week. It’s my first time in Perth and I've really enjoyed myself. It’s funny, I saw this (diamond tennis ball trophy) actually when I first got here and I thought it was the best trophy in sports,'' Mattek-Sands said.

"This is one of the best run events of the WTA Tour of the year. It’s fantastic. There was a really strong field this year, there was great players; Ana (Ivanovic), Justine, (Novak) Djokovic, (Lleyton) Hewitt. I hope everyone enjoyed watching some great tennis this week."

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Henin beat Mattek-Sands 7-6(6), 6-3, in the opener before Isner bounced back to even the final at one apiece after he blasted Bemelmans 6-3, 6-4.

"I’ve got to thank Bethanie; her back’s got to be hurting from carrying me all week. She was rock solid all week long,'' Isner said. "I kind of got a whooping yesterday (against Murray), but I regrouped and played very well today which is really, really encouraging. Also I want to say congrats to the Belgium team. It’s a great team we beat today."

Chanda Rubin and Justin Gimelstob won the USA's first Hopman Cup in 1997 with Serena Williams and James Blake capturing the Cup in 2003 and Blake and Lindsay Davenport defending in 2004. Lisa Raymond and Taylor Dent led the Americans to the 2006 Hopman Cup with Serena and Mardy Fish collecting the USA's fifth Cup in 2008. 

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