VOA标准英语2008年-USA, Serbia Reach Hopman Cup Final

By VOA Sports
Washington, DC
03 January 2008

The United States and Serbia have advanced to the finals of the Hopman Cup mixed team tennis tournament in Perth, Australia, a key warm-up for the Australian Open.

The U.S. team of Serena Williams and Mardy Fish beat host Australia, 3-0. Williams beat Alicia Molik in women's singles, 6-2, 7-6.

Fish downed Peter Luczak in two tiebreakers, 7-6, 7-6. The Americans won the mixed doubles, 6-2, 6-3. The U.S. team ended round-robin play undefeated, the only team without a loss in Group-B.

In Group-A, Serbia defeated Argentina, 2-1, when Novak Djokovic teamed with Jelena Jankovic to win the doubles in three sets over Gisela Dulko and Juan Ignacio Chela (6-1, 3-6, 7-6).

Earlier, Jankovic pulled out of her singles match with Dulko because of a lower back strain¹ that also forced her off the courts Wednesday. Djokovic won his singles match over Chela in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The Serbians also ended round-robin play without a loss.

Friday's final will be the ninth U.S. appearance in the 20-year history of the tournament. The Americans are trying to win the event for the fifth time.

Some information for this report was provided² by AFP, AP and Reuters. 

1 strain   

n.紧张，拉紧，血统；v.劳累，拉紧，过份使用

参考例句：

• Strain the fat off before you serve the soup.在上汤前把里面的油滤掉。
• He had a muscular strain.他肌肉过劳。

2 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。