MARTIN SINNER saved three match points before beating Mark Philippoussis 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) as Germany ended Australian hopes in the Hopman Cup team tennis event in Perth yesterday.
Sinner's triumph gave the seventh-seeded German holders an unassailable 2-0 lead and left them on the brink of qualifying for the final after winning both of their ties in Group B. They upset the Netherlands, seeded two, in their opening tie.
Australia have lost their two matches.
Top seeds Croatia, with Goran Ivanisevic winning twice in a 2-1 triumph over the United States, head Group A with two wins.
After Anke Huber had continued her fine form to trounce a struggling Nicole Bradke 6-3, 6-1 in under an hour, Sinner produced brilliant all-round tennis to beat the promising Philippoussis in just over two hours.
Sinner, now fully recovered from an ankle injury which almost put an end to his career, saved three match points on the tall Australian teenager's serve in the second set, one on a double fault.
Sinner held serve to take a 6-5 lead and then broke his rival to take the match into the third set.
Philippoussis broke immediately in the decider and led 2-0 but failed to sustain the pressure. Sinner broke back in the fourth game.
