Swiss stroll to Hopman success

Federer and Hingis show off the trophy

Top seeds Switzerland crushed the United States 3-0 in the Hopman Cup final in Australia with Martina Hingis and Roger Federer proving much too strong for Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill.

It was Switzerland's second triumph in the 13-year-old contest - the first came nine years ago when Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere and Jakob Hlasek beat Czechoslovakia's Helena Sukova and Karel Novacek in the final.

For Hingis, it was a case of fourth time lucky after unsuccessful bids in 1996, 1997 and 1999.

Hingis, who has never lost a singles match in the mixed team event, set the Swiss on the way to victory with victory over Seles in a classic women's singles clash, 7-5, 6-4.

Federer sealed the title, beating Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 6-3 to make the outcome of the final mixed doubles rubber academic.

Hingis had to produce her most explosive tennis to overcome Seles in 72 minutes.

She said: "It was a great match. Monica is a great competitor and every time we play each other it is always a great match.

Switzerland were simply better today

  Monica Seles

"She is such an aggressive player. She served very well, she always had me under pressure. I definitely had to run today."

Federer said he had been very nervous at the start of the tournament.

"But I handled the pressure well and played well," he said.

Seles, smiling in defeat, said: "Switzerland were simply better today."

The Hingis win gave her a 13-2 head-to-head advantage over Seles.

Hingis confirmed she and Seles would soon become doubles team-mates, playing together in Sydney and the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.

"We will see how it goes and maybe we will continue to play together," she said.

"She is such a professional player. She has a great serve and a great game for the doubles. As a team, I think we have great chances."

Hingis has decided to play with Seles after a much-publicised split with her former doubles partner, glamorous Russian Anna Kournikova.

Federer overcame his early nerves

A fired-up Seles made it clear from the start that Hingis would have her work cut out to overcome her older rival.

The crucial turn came in the 11th game when a relieved Hingis broke a third time and served out to take the set in 39 minutes.

In the second set, play went with service until the ninth game, when Hingis broke Seles' service, and then hung on in the 10th to clinch the best match of the tournament before a capacity indoor crowd of almost 8,000.

In the men's singles, Federer, still only 19 and ranked 29th, played the steadier tennis against a frustrated Gambill.