Australia takes early lead vs Ukraine in Hopman Cup final

Last year Nick Kyrgios made headlines for his mouth, following several outbursts on the court, but on this day the youngster had his play do the talking as he led Australia Green against Andy Murray and Team GB.

Having secured the trophy and a 6-3 6-4 win, it was decided that the doubles rubber would not be played and instead Australia could revel in their triumph.

“Hopefully that can continue to come, and she can keep giving me tips”.

Ever the perfectionist, Murray said he had more work to do before the Australian Open gets underway on January 18 in Melbourne.

Kyrgios won all four of his singles matches in the event and also combined with Gavrilova for an unbeaten mixed doubles run.

Her victory put the tie into the hands of Kyrgios and, having taken the first set in just under half an hour, he grabbed an early break in the second before cruising to victory.

The result set up a tense finale to a thrilling tie and the Australian pair got off to the best possible start by clinching the opening set.

Nick Kyrgios said after the match, dedicating the trophy to the James Ward’s coach who recently passed away.

Gavrilova, number 36 in the world, defeated the 19th-ranked Elina Svitolina 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) after saving set points in the second-set tie-breaker.

Gavrilova trailed 6-1 in the second-set tiebreaker before reeling off seven consecutive points for an unlikely victory.

Gavrilova, who only received her Australian visa late previous year, went two breaks ahead in the first set when Svitolina’s shot was called long. “I gave up maybe five or six break points total in the three matches, and some of them could have been avoided as well, so that was very good”.

Australia’s victory denied Britain the chance to compete for the title as the team of Murray and Heather Watson would have progressed had the French pair completed a surprise win against the Australia Green team.

Any Murray and Heather Watson won their respective singles matches against Alexander Zverev and Sabine Lisicki, but they needed Australia Green to lose in order to make the last two.