Breathless Murray fails to lift Robson to Hofman Cup victory

After Robson lost to French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-5 6-3, Murray overcame Potito Starace in straight sets to set up a deciding mixed doubles.

The first two sets were shared with the Italians clinching the tie on a champions' tie-break.

The result means Great Britain need to beat France tomorrow to stand a realistic chance of progressing in this event which acts as a warm-up for the season-opening grand slam in Melbourne.

Robson battled hard against Schiavone despite suffering from dizziness and earache but her opponent's superior experience finally counted.

World No 4 Murray levelled things up with a 7-5 6-1 win over Starace but admitted afterwards he had been struggling physically in the Perth heat in his first match of 2011.

"It was a tough match," said Murray.

"It's so hot, so humid in here I was struggling a little bit with my breathing, but it was really good atmosphere and great on a Monday to have a full crowd.

"I didn't feel very fit, I was breathing so hard after four or five games, so hopefully that will improve over the next couple of weeks.

"But that's the goal to try and beat those guys in the big events and try and win my first grand slam."

The gruelling nature of the tie continued with the first two sets of the mixed going all the way before Italy ran through the champions' tie-break to secure a 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (10/2) win.

John Isner won his first meeting with Nicolas Mahut since their epic encounter at Wimbledon last summer to give the United States an unassailable 2-0 lead over France.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands beat Kristina Mladenovic 3-6 6-3 6-1 in the opener before Isner made it

2-0. The last time the pair met was in west London with Isner winning in five sets, spanning 11 hours.

On this occasion, the match lasted just 90 minutes with Isner again emerging triumphant, 6-3 7-6 (7/5).

"If I had've lost that second set it might have gone for four hours, so I was lucky to finish it in two. First match of the year, I'm pretty pleased with how I played," said Isner. In the mixed doubles, Mattek-Sands and Isner came from a set down to complete a full house of victories