Holders go through

Srichaphan fought a tough battle to beat Ferreira

Defending champions South Africa can still retain their title but only after surviving a major scare from last year's runner-up Thailand.

Wayne Ferreira and Amanda Coetzer, the triumphant pairing 12 months ago at the Burswood Dome, closed out the match with a 6-4 6-1 win over Paradorn Srichaphan and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Thailand had given themselves a chance of a surprise win over South Africa after twenty-one-year-old Srichaphan defeated veteran Ferreira in the men's singles.

Srichapan, who is ranked 104th in the world compared with Ferreira's 13th, won in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

Srichaphan's victory levelled the tie at one each after Coetzer had held off a determined challenge from Tanasugarn in the women's singles.

Coetzer overpowered her opponent

Coetzer, ranked 11th in the world, beat Tanasugarn (29th) 6-4, 6-4.

The result of the tie does not affect Thailand, wgo were out of the running already