Russia, Argentina remain on course

PERTH, Australia -- Top seeds Russia and Argentina remained in contention for a place in the Hopman Cup final after they secured 2-1 wins over their respective opponents.

Both nations had lost their opening ties before making amends on Wednesday.

Russia ended Sweden's hopes of advancing any further in the team competition after edging past their Group A rivals in the mixed doubles.

Argentina also won the decisive mixed doubles to beat Germany in Group B.

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Yuri Schukin beat Swedish pair Sofia Arvidsson and Thomas Johansson 6-3 7-5, while Argentine duo Gisela Dulko and Gaston Gaudio romped to a 7-5 6-0 win over Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Nicolas Kiefer.

After two series of round-robin play, a second-string United States team and the unheralded Netherlands head their respective groups having won both of their two ties to date.

Kuznetsova fought back from a break down three times in the opening set to overcome Arvidsson 7-6 6-4, giving the top seeds an early advantage, but Johansson leveled for Sweden after struggling to a 7-6 7-6 win over 299th-ranked Schukin.

"I wasn't at my best today," said Kuznetsova. "I didn't have a good feeling for the match. I did so many unforced errors and lost my concentration so many times but hopefully that will get better."

Russia will play Serbia & Montenegro in Group A on Thursday for a place in the final, while the U.S. take on Sweden.

In Group B, Argentina will play an eliminated Australian team and Germany face the Netherlands, with any one of three teams still able to qualify.

For the Argentines, Dulko took 57 minutes to sweep aside an injury-hampered Groenefeld 6-1 6-0 for her first Hopman Cup singles win in six attempts.

Groenefeld, who made 34 unforced errors, had her left ankle and right thigh strapped, and she became increasingly frustrated as Dulko kept her under pressure with a powerful forehand and exploited her lack of mobility with several drop-shots.

"She definitely didn't play at her level," Dulko conceded. "She didn't have a good day. But I'm happy because I played a good match and did what I had to do."

Gaudio's hangover from his 6-0 6-0 defeat by Roger Federer during the Masters Cup at the end of last season continued as he lost his second match of the week.

The highest-ranked player to compete at the event, 10th-placed Gaudio slumped 6-3 6-3 against Kiefer, who dominated with an athletic performance and a blistering serve that produced 13 aces.

In contrast, Gaudio hit three double-faults in his opening service game and was broken at 1-0, and he foot-faulted at 2-2 to go down a break in the second set. A third break in the last game earned Kiefer a comfortable victory.

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