Germany beats US 2-1, Russia defeats Taiwan

James Blake's bid for a third Hopman Cup title will have to wait after the United States slumped out of contention with a 2-1 loss to Germany on Wednesday.

Blake beat Nicolas Kiefer in three sets to square the match after Meghann Shaughnessy had lost to Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the women's singles, leaving the result hinging on the mixed doubles, which Lisicki and Kiefer won 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 (match tiebreaker).

After losing 3-0 to Slovakia in its opening match, the United States needed to beat Germany and Australia to have a chance of reaching Friday's final in the international mixed team tournament.

The winner of the Germany vs. Slovakia match will top Group A and advance to the final. The United States will end the round-robin against host Australia, which is also winless in two matches.

Russia's brother-sister combination of Marat Safin and Dinara Safina moved into outright top place in Group B with a 2-1 win over Taiwan.

The Russians secured the match after winning both singles.

Safina beat Hsieh Su-wei 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. Safin had to fend off set points at 3-5 in the second and win the last four games in a 7-6 (6), 7-5 win over Lu Yen-hsun.

Hsieh and Lu combined for a 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 win in the mixed doubles.

Russia has beaten Italy and Taiwan and plays France on Thursday. France is 1-1 after beating Taiwan and losing to Italy.

Germany's Lisicki hasn't lost a match yet at Perth, recovering to beat Shaughnessy 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.

No. 10-ranked Blake kept the result alive with a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (7), 6-4 win over Kiefer. Blake converted only one of 18 breakpoint chances _ in the opening game of the thirst set _ but that was one better than Kiefer.

Blake won back-to-back Hopman Cup titles with Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport in 2003 and 2004.