GORAN IVANISEVIC won his crucial singles match against Wayne Ferreira as top seeds Croatia booked a place in the Hopman Cup final in Perth last night despite losing to South Africa 2-1 in their last group A match.

Only the United States had a chance of overtaking Croatia but when Richey Reneberg lost his singles to France's Arnaud Boetsch 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 in the other group A game the US could take only five as opposed to Croatia's six robbers.

Although the US went on beat France 2-1 it was too late to thwart the Croats.

Ivanisevic outplayed Ferreira 6-4, 6-3 after his doubles partner Iva Majoli had lost to Amanda Coetzer 4-6, 6-3, 1-6.

In the doubles, with both teams playing what tournament director Paul McNamee described as "Mickey Mouse tennis" Ferreira and Coetzer won the sudden death tie break 7-5.

Earlier, third seeded Switzerland beat the Netherlands 2-1 and now need to beat the champions Germany today to top group B and meet Croatia in tomorrow's final.

Switzerland, who beat Australia 2-1 on the first day, took an unbeatable lead against the second seeded Dutch with victories in both singles.

Teenager Martina Hingis kept her nerves and returned well to defeat big serving Brenda Schultz McCarthy 6-3, 7-5. Marc Rosset also scored a straight sets win, upsetting world number 11 Richard Krajicek 6-4, 6-4.

Schultz McCarthy hammered 12 aces but failed to unsettle the smiling Hingis, who at 15 is playing in her first Hopman Cup. "Why shouldn't I smile, I am playing well and I have all the more reason to be happy," she said.