Hopman Cup 2017: Wednesday Tennis Scores, Results and Updated Schedule

France maintained their fine record at the 2017 Hopman Cup on Wednesday, as they whitewashed Great Britain 3-0 in Perth, Australia. 

The pairing of Kristina Mladenovic and Richard Gasquet had too much for their opponents Heather Watson and Dan Evans, with the French duo winning their respective singles matches before linking up to great effect in the mixed doubles. It's a win that gives France a brilliant chance of qualifying from Group B for the tournament final.

There was a shock for Switzerland, as Roger Federer fell to defeat against Germany's Alexander Zverev. 

However, the Swiss team recovered to win 2-1 as Belinda Bencic beat Andrea Petkovic and found success in the mixed doubles.

Here are the results from Day 4 of what continues to be a fascinating event, the schedule for Thursday's play and a recap of how the action panned out on Wednesday.

France 3-0 Great Britain
Switzerland 2-1 Germany
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d Heather Watson (GBR)	6-4, 5-7, 6-3
Richard Gasquet (FRA) d Dan Evans (GBR)	6-4, 6-2
Mladenovic/Gasquet (FRA) d Watson/Gasquet (GBR)	4-3 (4), 4-3 (2)
Alexander Zverev (GER) d Roger Federer (SUI)	7-6 (1) 6-7 (4) 7-6 (4)
Belinda Bencic (SUI) d Andrea Petkovic (GER)	6-3, 6-4
Bencic/Federer (SUI) d Petkovic/Zverev (GER)	4-1 4-2

Czech Republic vs. Spain
Australia v USA
Lucie Hradecka (CZE)	vs.	Lara Arruabarrena (ESP)
Adam Pavlasek (CZE)	vs.	Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Hradecka/Pavlasek (CZE)	vs.	Arruabarrena/Lopez (ESP)
Nick Kyrgios (AUS)	vs.	Jack Sock (USA)
Daria Gavrilova (AUS)	vs.	CoCo Vandeweghe (USA)
Gavrilova/Kyrgios (AUS)	vs.	Vandeweghe/Sock (USA)

Schedule courtesy of the Hopman Cup website.

Wednesday Recap

Will Russell/Getty Images

In Mladenovic and Gasquet, France have one of the most gifted partnerships in this competition, and the pair showed their class throughout the three legs of their match with Great Britain.

The tightest of the three clashes was the women's singles, as Watson put up a big fight against her opponent. Mladenovic edged the first set 6-4, although after Watson bounced back to steal the second, the momentum was with the Briton.

However, Mladenovic recomposed herself ahead of the decider, motoring into a 5-2 lead. Watson dug in and saved two match points returning serve, but eventually the Frenchwoman was able to break back and secure a hard-earned win. Afterwards, she spoke of the challenges that this type of match can throw up.

Will Russell/Getty Images

'It was definitely difficult," she said, per Val Febbo of the event's website. 'But I feel great physically I have to say I was far from having cramps or big fatigue. It was more like a mental conditioning. You have to keep working in your head to stay there and concentrate, because if your concentration goes away then it is very difficult."

As we can see here, she even had time to offer Gasquet some words of encouragement ahead of his match:

Not that he needed it, as the Frenchman was in total control from the off against Evans. Gasquet was in the groove early on and was a comfortable 6-4 winner in the opening set; in the second stanza, he upped those levels again, dictating play with his superb backhand, leaving Evans a little shellshocked.

It was a win that clinched the contest for France. and they were able to add some gloss to their victory by winning the mixed-doubles rubber in straight sets.

Switzerland were staring defeat in the face as Federer lost his country's first match against Germany to Alexander Zverev.

The prodigy claimed the victory 7-6 (1), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) in a major win for the teenage player.

However, Bencic defeated Petkovic in straight sets to level the scores ahead of the mixed doubles, and Switzerland confidently jumped forward with a 4-1, 4-2 victory in the final match.