Casey Dellacqua

Australia's Hopman Cup title hopes are hanging by a thread after Casey Dellacqua went down in straight sets to the Slovak Republic's Dominika Cibulkova.

World No.19 Cibulkova won 7-5 6-2 in 84 minutes to give the Slovak Republic a 1-0 lead ahead of Lleyton Hewitt's clash with Dominik Hrbaty.

Dellacqua, who made an astonishing 47 unforced errors, served for the opening set at 5-4 up but lost her nerve when it mattered most.

The 23-year-old dropped five straight service games from that point as Cibulkova romped to the win.

Cagey veteran Dominik Hrbaty conjured an upset 3-0 win for the Slovak Republic over defending champions the United States in the mixed teams Hopman Cup here Monday.

The day after his 31st birthday, Hrbaty belied his lowly ranking to stun American James Blake, snatching an enthralling singles encounter in three sets to secure the Group A tie for the Slovaks against the top seeds.

Casey Dellacqua believes the timing is perfect for herself and Samantha Stosur to take the profile of women's tennis in Australia to new heights.

With Lleyton Hewitt sliding down the world rankings, Dellacqua feels there is an opportunity for herself and Stosur to fill the void and become the nation's hope of success.

"We are ranked 52 and 53 in the world now," Dellacqua said.

"I am only 23 and Sam is 24 so I definitely believe we are on our way to making our mark.

Dinara Safina will get a rare chance to team with her big brother Marat Safin as the pair lead favourite Russia into play at the Hopman Cup. The eight-nation team event begins on Saturday with title prospect France (Gilles Simon, Alize Cornet) facing Taiwan. Russia goes into action on Sunday - pending Marat's last-minute arrival - with an opening tie against Italy.

Safina, ranked a career-high number four on the WTA, won four titles last season and played three other finals including the French Open against Ana Ivanovic and the Beijing Olympics against Elena Dementieva.

Australia's Casey Dellacqua has declared herself injury-free and ready to break into the world's top 32 ahead of her playing comeback at Perth's Hopman Cup.

Dellacqua, who will partner Lleyton Hewitt at the $1 million mixed teams event, experienced both the highs and the lows of professional tennis in 2008.

The 23-year-old, currently ranked 53 in the world, shot to prominence when she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, and her world ranking rocketed to 39 following third-round appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Rising tennis star Casey Dellacqua has secured a place in the main draw for the Sydney International next month.

The 23-year-old, ranked 53 in the world, on Monday gained a wildcard entry for the event alongside fellow Australian and world No.52 Samantha Stosur.

"I need to play the top girls and most of them will be in Sydney, so I really appreciate receiving a wildcard and I am looking forward to playing there," Dellacqua said in a statement from her home town, Perth.

It takes a talent of significance to impress Nicole Pratt, but the hardened veteran readily admits to being amazed by an exchange she saw at Wimbledon this year.

This year's Australian Open was a dream come true for Casey Dellacqua and she expects her return to Melbourne Park to be an even better experience.

Dellacqua captured the hearts of a nation when she achieved her best grand slam result by reaching the fourth round and upsetting seeds Amelie Mauresmo and Patty Schnyder.

The Perth girl arrives in town on Wednesday and carries the realistic aim of breaking into the world's top 32.

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Group A

Casey Dellacqua has been given few favours in the women's draw for US Open after being slated to meet world No.1 Ana Ivanovic in the second round.

World No.44 Dellacqua, who will go into next week's grand slam as Australia's top ranked player following the injury-forced withdrawal of Lleyton Hewitt, was today drawn to meet a qualifier in the first round.