Perth, Jan 2: Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues beat Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Gajdosova in a mixed doubles third set tiebreaker to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Australia in their Hopman Cup encounter Sunday at the Burswood Dome.
According to Hopman Cup rules, the mixed doubles is decided by a tiebreaker if sides win a set apiece. The first pair to reach 10 points with at least a two-point advantage wins the match.
Earlier, Gajdosova beat Medina Garrigues 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to give Australia a 1-0 lead on the indoor hard courts.
Verdasco then beat Hewitt 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, breaking Hewitt's serve in the final game, to leave the countries level at 1-1.
On Monday, Czech Republic plays Bulgaria and the United States, with Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Mardy Fish, takes on top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki and Frederik Nielsen of Denmark.
France beat China 2-1 in the eight-country tournament's opening match Saturday.
