Australia’s mixed doubles pair of pairing of Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Gajdosova let a four point lead in their third and final set tiebreak against Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Grrigues slip by to lose a heartbreaker to Spain in the 24th Hopman Cup tie at Burswood Dome in Perth, Western Australia, Sunday.
The Aussie tandem raced to a 5-1 lead in the deciding set which was a race to ten before the Spanish duo clawed back with a four point run to level the score at 5-5.
Hewitt and Gajdosova worked themselves back to match point but somehow failed to capitalize and the Spanish pair clinched the set and the tie when Gajdosova had to serve to Verdasco who hammered a powerful return of serve that gave the Australian girl no chance at all.
Hewitt said “It was a bit disappointing that we had a match point and couldn’t get it done.”
Hewitt lost his first match of 2012 earlier in the day but more importantly passed an important fitness test against Verdasco who needed 128 minutes and three sets, 6-3 3-6 7-5, to beat the Australian.
Jarmila Gajdosova got Australia off to a 1-0 lead against Spain after overcoming Anabel Medina Garrigues in three sets.
