PERTH, January 1: Spain are favourites to win the $587,880 Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament starting here on Saturday.Carlos Moya, ranked seventh in the world and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ninth, are top seeds in the eight-day, nine-nation contest at Burswood Dome.
Spain have won the competition once before -- in 1990 when Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and her brother, Emilio Sanchez, overcame Americans John McEnroe and Pam Shriver in the final.
Second seeds in this year's tournament, the 10th since the novel mixed teams concept was introduced, are France, represented by Mary Pierce (seventh in the world) and Cedric Pioline (20th).
France have taken part in the Hopman Cup every year, but have never won, despite advancing to the semi-finals three times.
They fought through to the last four in the third tournament before Guy Forget and Catherine Tanvier were eliminated by Yugoslavia's Goran Prpic and Monica Seles, the eventual winners.
Two years later, France's Forget and Nathalie Tuaziat lost
their semi-final against Germany's Michael Stich and Steffi Graf, who won the final.
Two years on, France were again beaten in a semi-final by Germany when Jean-Philippe Fleurian and Julie Halard went down in Boris Becker and Anke Huber, who later clinched the crown.
South Africa's Wayne Ferreira and Amanda Coetzer, beaten by the United States' unseeded Justin Gimelstob and Chanda Rubin in last year's final, are seeded third.
The American pair, who caused a major upset, will be in action again but they have not been seeded.
Fourth seeds are Australia, whose hopes rest with United States Open winner Patrick Rafter, ranked second in the world, and Annabel Ellwood (93rd).
When the tournament starts on Saturday, Romania's Dinu Pescariou and Irina Spirlea clash with Slovak Republic pair, Karol Kucera and Karina Habsudova, in a play-off to decide which country qualifies for the final eight.On Sunday, the Australian pair will be treated by Sweden's Thomas Enqvist and Asa Carlsson.
Teams
Group
A: Spain: Carlos Moya/Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, (1), Australia: Patrick Rafter/Annabel Ellwood (4); Sweden: Thomas Enqvist/Asa Carlsson; Slovak Republic: Karol Kucera/Karina Habsudova or Rumania: Dinu Pescariu/Irina Spirlea (to be decided by play-off).
Group B: France: Cedric Pioline/Mary pierce (2), South Africa Wayne Ferreira/Amanda Coetzer (3), United States: Justin Gimestob/Chanda Rubin; Germany: Tommy Haas/Anke Huber.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
