Perth, Australia – Poland will face the US in the weekend final at the Hopman Cup after Jerzy Janowicz clinched the spot with his defeat of Frenchman Benoit Paire.
Janowicz came through with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) result to assure the Poles a spot in their second straight title match at the mixed team event.
Despite the 1-1 scoreline, the win was enough to mathematically put the Poles through prior to the mixed doubles rubber, with the straight-sets component assuring the final for the East Europeans.
The end did not come without some effort, with Paire saving four match points in the second-set tiebreaker. Janowic finally closed it out on his fifth winning opportunity, sending an inside-out forehand deep into the corner for a match-winner after just under 90 minutes.
The Pole ended with seven aces and 29 winners after leading Paire by a set and 4-1.
“I'm really happy,” he said after being informed post-match that his nation had reached the final. “I didn't know this, I though we would have to win two matches.
“But it will be a tough final against the Americans, I hope we can finally come through for the win.”
The Saturday final will be a chance for the US to win an unprecedented seventh title and for Serena Williams to become the first player to claim three honours at the tournament.
The Polish tie with defending champion France was a repeat of the 2014 final at the Perth Arena.
Earlier, battling Alize Cornet had kept the French in the fight with her marathon 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 defeat of world number five Agnieszka Radwanska.
Cornet, her tennis bag bearing a “Je Suis Charlie” message in support of the shooting victims at the Paris satirical magazine, put her heart into the battle with Radwanska, coached by Martina Navratilova.
Cornet won the opening set on a break in the fifth game but found herself level-pegging in the second as Radwanska struck back.
The third set passed 73 minutes, a massive struggle which Cornet finally set up with a break for 6-5 from a Radwanska forehand error.
It still took two match points - Cornet also had to save a break point -in the next game to clinch the opening victory in the tie.
Cornet ended with 41 winners while breaking on four of her 15
chances.
“I was playing more consistent than last year, one of the toughest opponent on court,” said Cornet. “She's everywhere, bringing back all balls, she has some tricks, she has such a tough hand and I'm really glad I beat her today.” – Sapa-dpa