ITF

AUSSIES F or the first time in 28 editions of the tournament, the ITF's mixed team competition fielded two Australian teams — a Green side and a Gold combination, honouring the nation's sporting colours. The decision allowed Hopman Cup to host the local legend Lleyton Hewitt, who partnered the recently- wedded Jarmila Wolfe (nee Gajdosova) for Australia Gold, on his last tour as a player around the country. Farewelling Hewitt, who played in the tournament for a record eighth time, was always going to make it a special tournament. But the bonus for the largely partisan crowd came when the Green combination of Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova played brilliantly to claim the title. Their victory over the Ukraine pairing of Alexandr Dolgopolov and Elina Svitolina saw them become only the second-ever Australian combination to win the Hopman Cup, joining the 1999 champions Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic. For Gavrilova, who had called Australia home for four years but only received her citizenship a month before the tournament, the success made her feel like a "true- blue Aussie." "It is the biggest event I have won and just representing Australia for the first time and winning this title straightaway is amazing," she said. "Since I was a little kid, I always watched the Hopman Cup and it is a dream come true. It means everything to me." But the drama was not restricted solely to the court. Before a point was played, Andy Murray was scratched by a large koala and Kyrgios found himself swamped on a beach in the middle of a shark scare while promoting the tournament. Both were able to laugh about the drama. A revamped players' party also offered up two unforgettable moments for those in attendance. Hewitt provided an insight into a remarkable career spanning 20 Australian Opens when discussing the six most important matches of his career. But the greatest thrill occurred when Margaret Court and Serena Williams shared a stage at the party. Between them, the pair holds 45 Grand Slam singles titles (the Australian 24 and the American 21) and the esteem each held the other in was clear, as In an historic Hopman Cup featuring Australians brash, brave, old and new, a special ending for the host nation always seemed likely, says Courtney Walsh. HOPMAN CUP RULE Daria Gavrilova and Nick Kyrgios lift the Hopman Cup trophy Caroline Garcia in action for France

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