adminThe French pairing of Marion Bartoli and Richard Gasquet, seeded second in the event, were too good for the other unbeaten team in Group B, Spanish duo Anabel Medina Garrigues and Fernando Verdasco.
The ninth-ranked Bartoli continued her impressive early season form ahead of the Australian Open to put the French on track for tomorrow’s final when she beat Medina Garrigues in the women’s singles in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Richard Gasquet, 19th in the world, then cruised past former world number seven Fernando Verdasco, now ranked 24th, by the same scoreline in the men’s singles to put the French into the final.
The dead mixed doubles rubber was not played.
France’s only previous appearance in the Hopman Cup final was in 1998, when Mary Pierce and Cedric Pioline were beaten 2-1 by the Slovak Republic’s Karina Habsudova and Karol Kucera.
Bartoli was excited to have the chance to be the first French team to win the Hopman Cup.
“It is the first time we have played together so we couldn’t have asked for more,” she said. “We want the diamond balls that’s for sure”, she added, referring to the unique diamond-encrusted tennis balls the winners receive. – AFP.
Online Reporter
- Herald
- July 31, 2026
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