Germany Edge Australia In Hopman Cup Tiebreaker

Germany triumphed in a deciding mixed doubles tiebreaker to defeat Australia 2-1 in their Group A clash at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Monday.

The German pair of Nicolas Kiefer and Sabine Lisicki won the deciding tiebreaker 10-5 to clinch the match 6-7 6-3 7-6 after the two singles rubbers had been split.

Lisicki gave Germany the early lead when she beat Casey Dellacqua 4-6 6-2 7-5 but Australia squared the tie when Lleyton Hewitt defeated Kiefer 6-7 6-3 6-2.

Despite the loss, Hewitt said he was encouraged by his own performance in his first match since undergoing hip surgery in August.

"I've been hanging for this match for a long time... it's a great way to start the year," he told reporters.

"It takes a lot of courage to come back from surgery and to come back and lose the first set in a tiebreak and then win the second and third convincingly -- it's a good start."

The United States were due to play Slovak Republic in Monday's second Group A tie. Russia and France won their Group B ties on Sunday.