I didn't see the singles but watched the mixed. Thought the Brits did very well to keep it that close, they were constantly under huge pressure on serve, and combined well to get themselves out of trouble frequently.

Disappointed they didn't go on to take the second set after breaking back, they saved a couple of break points at *4-4 but lost the deuce point, then missed break points in the final game at 4-5*.

Unless France cause a huge upset that's us out of the running, but I would like to see Heather do much better in singles against Casey, even with the home advantage she should be running her close and that's the sort of player she needs to beating if she is serious about her goal of making slam second weeks.

More encouraged about Hev after watching the extended coverage last night. After a slowish start (eventhough she broke to go 1-0 up ) during which she was misstiming alot of balls, she really played well from 1-4 down to 2-1 down in the second. Critically after a brilliant rally at 3-5 break point up 30-40 she looked to have won the point with a great smash to pull it back to 4-5, but Aga decided to challenge more out of hope than actual strong belief, both players marched back to their chairs for the changeover, alas the ball was frcationally wide and Aga held. Hev should also have been 2-1 up in the second.

Interestingly Darren Cahill who was commentating on Andy's match, referred to Hev's performance, and clearly is frustrated about the route Hev is taking with her game, i.e trying to hit winners from the back of the court with an overly aggressive baseline game, but usually only lighting up the unforced error stats page. Just goes to show that she is in a tricky spot at the moment, with maybe not 100 % believing that this is the way forward. Lots of times really poor errors will come when she is trying to win points too early in the rallies. Got to get the balance right.

As for Andy he was outstanding, kept his emotions in check for the most part, ball striking very good and very few poor errors, also his ball toss seems to me to be back to 2013 style, which is helping his serve.

Onto the mixed doubles where surprisingly Andy looked flat, and he couldn't serve anywhere near his best, as a result holding serve wasn't easy for both Hev and Andy. It was close but with Andy not being able to dominate at all, the result never really looked in doubt.

Thanks for the report, Phil.

I would like Heather to keep positive aggresive intent, but yes a balance required. More matches again should help timing issues when the shots are on.

I'm narked . I signed up for Eurosport Player for a month, for the Hopman Cup and the AO. I couldn't watch Andy's match against Janowicz, so went to their video on demand. It's on there, but doesn't work. . . The match v Paire works but I saw that live.

Hev gets break points but fluffs a ton of returns

*1-1

Dellacqua holds from 0-40 and advantage down. Big opportunity missed. Too tentative then two poor returns.

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:00:08 AM

Level drops dramatically, but she holds from 0-40 and advantage down

4-3*