PERTH, 30 December 2005 — The Hopman Cup gives Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova the opportunity to reignite her career after a disappointing 2005.
She must do it without her expected partner Marat Safin, however, after the Australian Open champion withdrew due to a knee injury.
Kuznetsova teams up with little-known Teimuraz Gabashvili, the Georgian-born 20-year-old who has won a mere $135,000 in his career. Gabashvili, the world number 132, beat US Open quarterfinalist James Blake last season and is no stranger to Kuznetsova who began last year ranked fifth before dropping to 18th.
The mixed team competitions, often referred to as an exhibition although it is fully sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation, has attracted most of the world’s top players over the last 17 years. This year’s event lacks big names but still features emerging talents alongside experienced competitors such as Nicolas Kiefer and Lisa Raymond. They include the half-sister of 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, Michaela, who became the world’s No. 1 junior after winning the singles and doubles titles at the 2004 US Open.
