India beat Japan 2-0, to meet Taipei in Hopman Cup final

Hyderabad, Nov 25 (UNI) Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna swept away their rivals in straight sets to swamp Japan 2-0 and set up a title clash with second seed Chinese Taipei in the Asian Hopman Cup tennis tournament here today.

Sania demonstrated all round performance to quell the challenge from lowly ranked Japanese Tomoko Yonemura in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 in women's singles in one hour and 15 minutes.

Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna, in a hard fought match, downed lowly ranked opponent Yuihi Sugita 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in one hour 17 minutes.

Saturday With a shaky start, Sania slowly gained the upper hand and prevailed over her opponent. She broke her rival's service in the first, seventh and 11th games though she lost her own in the sixth and eighth.

Sania dominated the second set, breaking her opponent thrice to win the match 7-5, 6-2.

On the other hand, Sugita and Bopanna held their serve forcing a tie-break, in which the Indian prevailed.

In the second set, Bopanna played better breaking the Japanese rival's serve in the second and the eighth games to clinch the match.

Meanwhile, Chienese Taipei defeated Thailand 3-0. In the women's singles I-Hsuan Hwang defeated Nudnida Luangnam of Thailand 6-2, 6-1, Ti Chen beat Weerapat Doakmaiklee 6-1, 6-4 in the men's singles and got a walk over in the mixed doubles.

UNI XR/SM GKT AY ND2106