Spain upset Serbia for Hopman Cup

Spain secured a surprise victory in the Hopman Cup with a comeback triumph against Serbia in the final of the mixed teams event in Perth on Saturday.

Fernando Verdasco [ Images ] and Anabel Medina Garrigues beat the more fancied pairing of Novak Djokovic [ Images ] and Ana Ivanovic [ Images ] 6-4, 7-5 in the deciding mixed doubles to secure a 2-1 win.

World No.1 Djokovic had already defeated Verdasco 6-3, 7-5 in the opening singles before Medina Garrigues survived a tense clash against Ivanovic, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.

"Thanks to Fernando because without him, the doubles would have been impossible," Medina Garrigues said.

Verdasco led Djokovic 3-0 in the second set of their singles rubber before being overhauled. "It's difficult to play against a player like him," Djokovic said. "He's very aggressive and serves over 200kmh."

Djokovic is chasing his third successive Australian Open [ Images ] at Melbourne [ Images ] Park from January 14.

He suffered a shock loss to Australia's [ Images ] Bernard Tomic during the round robin stage of the Hopman Cup but recovered with back-to-back singles wins against Andreas Seppi and Verdasco.

Image: Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain pose with the trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the final

Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images