updated 11:41 a.m. ET Dec. 29, 2007

BRISBANE, Australia - Meghann Shaughnessy, filling in for Serena Williams, got the United States off to a winning start Saturday and Mardy Fish clinched the win over India at the opener of the 20th Hopman Cup.

Shaughnessy won the last five games against an ailing Sania Mirza for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory and Fish secured the U.S. lead with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Rohan Bopanna. Mirza and Bopanna won the doubles 6-4, 6-4.

Australia upset the third-seeded Czech Republic 2-1 when Alicia Molik and Peter Luczak beat Lucie Safarova and Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-3 in the decisive mixed doubles match.

Molik won the singles 7-5, 6-2 to give the hosts a 1-0 lead, but Berdych defeated Luczak 7-6 (7), 6-4.

Top-seeded Serbia starts its Group A campaign against Taiwan and France plays Argentina on Sunday.

Australian Open champion Serena Williams was expected to arrive in Perth on the weekend and replace Shaughnessy for the next U.S. match against the Czech Republic on Monday. She delayed her arrival to recover from a knee injury.

Each team plays three times in the round-robin format, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semifinals.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM TENNIS

Tennis Section Front

Roddick to miss French Open with injury 45 suspicious tennis matches to be investigated Interactive: How do Federer, Nadal compare? Ljubicic rallies to beat Hajek at Hypo Group Govortsova beats Senoglu in Istanbul Cup Special feature: A look back at Henin's career Latest tennis videos   Video: Serena is headed for more Slam titles   Video: Sampras says Federer will be fine for French   Video: Federer 'bored' but will be OK, McEnroe says Tennis Section Front   Add Tennis headlines to your news reader: