Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/680484
Williams noted. "I never dreamt I would be on a stage, sitting next to Margaret Court, so it is a little bit surreal," she said. "It is really an honour to be mentioned alongside an amazing champion like her." At the time, it seemed probable that Court would be handing the Hopman Cup to Williams and her partner Jack Sock a week later, given the Americans' pre- tournament status as favourites. But that proved the only bright spot for Williams during a frustrating week in Perth. On practising the next morning, the superstar of women's tennis felt pain in her knee and managed to play only one set in the tournament as a result of the injury. The only positive Williams would take from her own misfortune was being replaced in the two singles she did not play by compatriot Victoria Duval, who is on the comeback trail after recovering from Hodgkin lymphoma. In tournament play, the entertaining Kyrgios put a controversial 2015 behind him with stunning singles and doubles displays. He posted a first-ever win over Murray, who had beaten him at Grand Slam level three times last year, in round robin play. After Gavrilova posted her best win for the week in the final when toppling the previously unbeaten Svitolina, Kyrgios proved too sound for Dolgopolov, handing him a first singles loss for the year. While Kyrgios went unbeaten in singles and Gavrilova won two of her four matches, it is fitting that their nous in the mixed doubles proved critical for Australia. They won all three mixed doubles in super tiebreakers, with Australia Green's place in the final not assured until a thrilling finale against the French duo of Caroline Garcia and Kenny de Schepper in the penultimate match of the tournament. Kyrgios also earned praise off the court. After the win, he dedicated Australia Green's victory to Darren Tandy, the popular coach of Great Britain's Davis Cup winner James Ward, whose funeral was held in his home town of Perth that week after he lost a short fight with cancer. With bushfires devastating a town southwest of Perth during the tournament, Kyrgios and Murray were among players to donate sporting goods and apparel to raise funds to help those affected. Great Britain's Heather Watson and Andy Murray narrowly missed out on reaching the final It was Lleyton Hewitt's swansong Hopman Cup Germany's Alexander Zverev made his Hopman Cup debut Victoria Duval (right) replaced Serena Williams to team with Jack Sock Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova Alexandr Dolgopolov helped Ukraine to the final www.itftennis.com