Swiss roll into Hopman final

Hingis had too much all-round ability for Coetzer

Roger Federer and Martina Hingis joined forces to take top seeds Switzerland into the final of the Hopman Cup.

With the tie against defending champions South Africa delicately poised at 1-1 after the singles, Federer and Hingis won the decisive mixed doubles 6-2 6-3.

The Swiss duo will face the American pair of Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill in Saturday's final.

Hingis has only lost twice in 14 meetings against Seles while Federer has yet to lose to Gambill.

I was also nervous going into the doubles after my singles loss, but Martina was great to have as a partner and she did it again for us

  Roger Federer

Hingis had given her country a perfect start by breaking Amanda Coetzer's serve six times in a 47-minute 6-1 6-0 trouncing.

She has now lost only five games in her three singles matches in the Cup.

But Wayne Ferreira levelled the Group A clash with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over 19-year-old Federer.

The tie hinged on the mixed doubles and the relatively inexperienced Federer admitted to being nervous heading into the match.

Different class

"I was also nervous going into the doubles after my singles loss, but Martina was great to have as a partner and she did it again for us," he said.

Coetzer, 29, fought gallantly against Hingis but had no answer to her power serving and precision returns.

"I was a little tired going into the match," said Hingis, who hardly made an error.

"I just tried to play my game and it worked very well.

"I am trying to improve all my shots, because if you don't try, you don't get anywhere."

Coetzer was philosophical after here mauling by Hingis: "I was a bit outclased in the singles. Martina played really well."