By Erik Gudris / Saturday, January 4, 2014

 

Led by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France claimed its first ever Hopman Cup title against top seed Poland in Saturday's finals.

Photo Credit: Hopman Cup/Getty

The French team of Alize Cornet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga held on to win their nation's first ever Hopman Cup title in Perth, Australia.

Facing top seed Poland in Saturday's final, the tie came down to the mixed doubles after each team split their opening singles matches.

Tsonga battled Grzegorz Panfil in the first singles match with the Frenchman easily winning the opening set. Panfil, who proved all week he deserved his place on the Polish team after being called in to substitute for an injured Jerzy Janowicz, held his own in the second set.

With Tsonga unable to convert on seven break points in the set, Panfiil claimed it 6-3. But Tsonga recovered and assumed control in the final set to close out the 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win.

The women's singles saw Cornet face off versus Agnieszka Radwanska. While Radwanska looked on her way to winning in straight sets, the wily Cornet staged a comeback. Trailing 3-5 in the second set, Cornet fought her way into a tiebreak that she eventually won.

But Radwanska ran away with the final set to wrap up the 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2 win.

With the title coming down to the mixed doubles, it was anyone's guess as to the outcome. But it would soon prove a formality for the French team as they cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win. That allowed them to win the tie outright 2-1 and with it claim the title.

Previously, France was a runner-up at the international team event in 1998 and 2012.