Sportmaster International

Golovin overcomes Harkleroad By Tim Clarke
Former Australian Captain December 30, 2006

TATIANA Golovin eventually recorded her expected victory against young American Ashley Harkleroad on night one of the Hopman Cup in Perth, but the win was neither easy or pretty.

Neither woman was originally scheduled to to appear in Perth this week, hence early-season cobwebs were evident from both as clean winners were rare amongst a sea of unforced errors.

But Golovin was eventually good enough to grind out a 6-3 4-6 6-2 win in 111 minutes.

The world No.22 of France, who had beaten the American in their only previous meeting - in the first round of this year’s US Open - said she had suffered jet-lag having arrived in Australia only yesterday.

“I didn’t get a lot of practice in this morning so I think I just got a little bit tight, but I refocused and regrouped in the third set,” Golovin said.

Golovin and team partner Jerome Haehnel were last-minute inclusions after the withdrawal of the Germany side, while Harkleroad was drafted after the late scratching of main drawcard Venus Williams.

AAP