One slip and your gone, Kiefer tumbles out of Hopman Cup tennis
I don’t know how many of you caught the unfortunate ending to Nicolas Kiefer’s Hopman Cup campaign. In case you did’nt here is what happened.
Kiefer was playing Dominic Hrbaty in the men’s singles rubber in the tie between Germany and the Slovak Republic. The winner of the tie would earn a place in the final of the Hopman Cup.
Kiefer had started the match well and was serving at 3-1 in the first set. He served to Hrbaty and ran towards the net in case he needed to volley, instead his opponent ballooned a shot long over the baseline. As Kiefer casually moved towards the net he turned to watch the ball sail long.
Just as the ball went out Kiefer was unfortunate enough to turn his ankle. He lay on the court in considerable pain. Hrbaty went to see how his opponent was before further medical aid arrived.
His injury was assessed and a wheelchair was called for. That was the end of Kiefer and Germany’s chance to make the final. Kiefer has ligament damage and now is in doubt for the Australian Open which starts later this month.
Kiefer’s misfortune was good news for the Slovak Republic team of Hrbaty and Dominika Cibulkova who were gifted the tie and a spot in the final. Cibulkova had earlier put her team in the pole position with a win over Sabine Lisicki. The score in that match was 7-6, 6-4.
The Slovak Republic will meet Russia in the final after the Safina/Safin team defeated France 2-1. Dinara had signalled that she is a player to watch out for at the Australian Open with a confident 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Alize Cornet. France hit back when world no. 6 Gilles Simon defeated Marat Safin in straight sets. The tie was then decided in the mixed doubles. The brother and sister team from Russia got up 6-4, 6-3 to go into the final undefeated.
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