Hopman Cup: India beat China

Rohan Bopanna pumelled Mao-Xin Gong in straight sets in the men's singles to give India an unbeatable 2-0 lead over China in the first round of the Asia Hopman Cup mixed team tennis championship in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Bopanna crushed his 997-ranked Chinese opponent 6-3, 6-2 in a lop-sided encounter after Sania Mirza had won the opening women's singles against Shuai Zhang 6-2, 6-2 at the SAAP tennis complex.

Bopanna broke his opponent in the fourth game in the first set and third and fifth games in the second to clinch the match.

Later in the night, Sania would pair up with Bopanna against the Chinese pair of Mao-Xin Gong and Shuai Zhang.

In other ties, second seed Chinese Taipei took 1-0 lead over Philippines with I-Hsuan Hwang defeating Czarina Arevalo in women's singles 6-0 6-2.

Scores: India bt China 2-0 (Sania Mirza bt Shuai Zhang 6-2 6-2, Rohan Bopanna bt Mao-Xin Gong 6-3, 6-2).

Chienese Taipei bt Philippines 1-0 (I-Hsuan Hwang bt Czarina Arevalo 6-0 6-2).