The first matches of Day 3 at the Hopman Cup featured a jet-lagged Andy Murray and a sick Laura Robson taking on a fitter Italian Team.
Francesca Schiavone defeated Robson in the first match 7-5, 6-3, while Murray stayed strong to win his first match of the year, defeating Potito Starace 7-5, 6-1.
It was up to the mixed doubles match and the Italians edged out the Brits 6-7, 7-6, 10-2 to win the Hopman Cup tie.
“I was breathing so hard after the first, four or five games. I only arrived on Saturday afternoon so there’s not been a whole lot of time to get over jet-lag yet. It’s going to take some time to get used to the conditions,” Murray said.
Later, France and the U.S. took the court, with the first match going to Bethanie Mattek-Sands over Kristina Mladenovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
John Isner followed up his partner’s win with another win over Nicolas Mahut 6-3, 7-6 in the Hopman Cup’s match of the day, the first meeting between the two since their epic Wimbledon marathon.
Team USA won the tie and will face Italy on Wednesday.
