Jelena Jankovic (left) and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embrace after defeating Tatiana Golovin and Arnaud Clement of France in their mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup in Perth yesterday. Serbia won the match 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10-4). - Reuters

PERTH, Australia (Reuters):

JELENA JANKOVIC battled through a leg injury at the Hopman Cup yesterday to give Serbia a 2-1 victory over France, putting them on course for a place in the final.

Taiwan caused a huge shock when they beat Argentina 3-0 in the night match to keep alive their own slim hopes of qualifying.

Most of the drama surrounded Jankovic, who handed France an early lead when she withdrew after only a game and a half of her match with Tatiana Golovin because of an injury to the top of her right leg.

Novak Djokovic pulled top seeds Serbia level with a confident 6-3, 6-3 victory over Arnaud Clement.

After a scan revealed that Jankovic had not torn a muscle, she decided to play the deciding mixed doubles, and she and Djokovic won it 5-7, 6-4, 10-4 (super tiebreak) to seal victory in the Group A clash.

"I stretched to hit a backhand I think and went back to push off to the next side and that's where I felt really sharp pain," Jankovic said. "It was like somebody put a knife in my glute.

Painful

"It's a strain. It was really, really painful. I thought I had torn a muscle or something. I have to be ready for (the Australian Open) and I don't want to risk any kind of injury."

The 20-year-old Djokovic, who will be one of the favourites for the title at the Australian Open later this month, cruised to victory over Clement.

"Today I was performing really well," he said. "I was keeping my focus throughout the match, trying to be in control.

"I think what decided our match was my serve. I think it was like never before."

Though Jankovic's movement was clearly restricted, the Serbian pair broke to lead 3-2 but France hit back and snatched the set with another break in the 12th game.

Djokovic and Jankovic then stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set and held on to level the match, before romping through the tiebreak 10-4.

Jankovic said she will undergo more treatment today before deciding whether to play against Argentina in their final Group A match.

Top spot

Victory for Serbia will ensure them top spot in Group A and send them through to tomorrow's final of the eight-nation mixed team event.

Should Serbia lose to Argentina, then Taiwan could yet reach the final after they upset the Argentines.

World number 157 Hsieh Su-wei came from a set and 5-2 down to beat Gisela Dulko, ranked 120 places above her, 3-6 7-6 7-5.

Lu Yen-hsun, ranked 110, then clinched a famous victory for Taiwan when he hammered world number 20 Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3 6-4.

The Taiwan pair then joined forces to beat Chela and Dulko in the mixed doubles, winning in a match tiebreak.

Taiwan take on France in their remaining match today.