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Indians shock Czechs in Hopman Cup

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PERTH, Australia -- India upset the Czech Republic 2-1 in a thrilling first round tie at the Hopman Cup mixed teams' event in Perth on Sunday.

The Indian pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna won a tie-breaker in the deciding mixed doubles rubber for a 6-3 5-7 10-6 victory after the singles matches had been split.

"Rohan played unbelievable in the mixed, I literally didn't have to do much," Mirza told reporters.

"He was flying all over the court... he had a banana before we went on.

"But I had to let loose also, I couldn't just let the boys hit it."

Mirza had earlier confirmed her reputation as one of Asia's most promising female players with a clinical 6-2 6-2 win over Lucie Safarova.

But world number 13 Tomas Berdych leveled the tie with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Bopanna in just 46 minutes to set the scene for the deciding mixed doubles.

India were appearing in the Hopman Cup for the first time, after winning the inaugural Asian version of the event last month, and their unexpected win over the Czech Republic followed two other surprise results on Saturday's opening day.

The host-nation Australia beat defending champions Russia and France defeated the United States.

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