Germany keep hopes alive in Hopman Cup

Sabine Lisicki of Germany hits a return against Caroline Garcia of France during their seventh session women's singles match on day four of the Hopman Cup tournament, in Perth, on Jan 6, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Tony Ashby)

PERTH, Australia: Germany kept their Hopman Cup hopes alive with a thrilling 2-1 win over France in their round robin tie at the mixed teams tournament in Perth on Wednesday.

The tie was level at 1-1 after the singles rubbers were split, but the German pairing of Sabine Lisicki and Alexander Zverev prevailed in the deciding mixed doubles, beating Caroline Garcia and Kenny de Schepper, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 10-6.

It was a make-or-break tie for both teams and the result ended the Hopman hopes of the French after defeats in their first two ties.

However, Germany can still reach Saturday's final if they beat Great Britain on Friday and other results go their way.

It was a dramatic mixed doubles rubber, with the Germans winning the first set and holding a match point at 6-5 in the second.

Lisicki thought she had served an ace to take the set, match and tie, but it was called a let and she then served a double fault to enable the French to force it to a tiebreak.

The Germans then saved three set points before the French eventually won the tiebreak 8-6 to force the deciding match tiebreak.

Lisicki was delighted to still be alive in the tournament.

"After four months layoff because of injury it really means a lot to me," she said.

"Sascha kept us alive and it is great to pull it out in the match tiebreak."

In the women's singles match, the emerging Garcia took early control against Lisicki.

The first set was a comfortable 6-2 win for the Frenchwoman, but the German started to show more signs of the form that took her to the 2013 Wimbledon final in the second set.

Garcia was up a break in the second set, but Lisicki broke back and started to find range on her groundstrokes.

The Frenchwoman looked frustrated and appeared rattled briefly, but regrouped to eventually win the match in a tiebreaker 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

Zverev then levelled the tie with a commanding win over French journeyman Kenny de Schepper.

The 18-year-old German is the youngest player in the men's top 100 and tipped as a rising star of the game.

Zverev looked a class act as he dismantled the 28-year-old Frenchman in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to set up the deciding mixed doubles.