ESPN Tennis

PERTH, Australia -- The Russian brother and sister combination of Dinara Safina and Marat Safin won the mixed doubles match against France on Thursday to secure a place in the final against Slovakia at the Hopman Cup.

Safina defeated Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-2 before her brother lost to Gilles Simon 7-6 (5), 6-3. In the deciding mixed doubles, Russia beat France 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the final of the team competition.

Meghann Shaughnessy and James Blake defeated Casey Dellacqua and Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 5-7 and 10-6 in the tiebreaker -- with Hewitt double-faulting on match point. The U.S. captured its first victory of the tournament with the 2-1 win over Australia, which finished 0-3.

Safina and Safin fell behind 4-1 on two service breaks before mounting a comeback, but not before a few words and glares were exchanged between the siblings on court.

"It's a brother-sister relationship," Safin said, grinning. "I think we all know about that."

The Russians cruised in the second set.

"It was good getting through," Safina said, "or it could have been the first and last time we played together."

Hewitt, who returned after five months off because of a hip injury and surgery, was bothered by an ear infection.

"It was not the Lleyton Hewitt of old, he was not at his best," said Blake, who beat Hewitt 6-2, 6-2 in the singles match. "I hope he's healthy for the Australian Open."

Shaughnessy lost to Dellacqua 6-3, 6-4 to set up the deciding mixed doubles.

Italy beat Taiwan 3-0 in another Group B match Thursday.

Slovakia, 3-0, advanced earlier when Dominika Cibulkova and Dominik Hrbaty won their singles matches over Germany, aided by a foot injury to Nicolas Kiefer.

He turned his right ankle in the first set and is uncertain for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 19.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press