PERTH: Daria Gavrilova and Thanasi Kokkinakis each won their singles matches as hosts Australia made a strong start to the mixed teams Hopman Cup at Perth Arena on Sunday, beating Canada 2-1.

World number 25 Gavrilova gave the home team the initial ascendancy with a straight-sets 6-1, 6-4 win over a disappointing Eugenie Bouchard before injury-plagued Australian youngster Kokkinakis was made to work harder to edge out world No.108 Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to wrap up the Group `A` tie for Australia. The Canadian team responded in the mixed doubles winning 4-3 (5-1), 4-3 (5-4) in the Fast4 format to gain some consolation.

Gavrilova came out firing against Bouchard, who has been ranked as high as fif th in the world but has slipped to 83rd on the back of a couple of lean years. The nimble-footed Australian raced to a 5-0 lead in the opener but f aced more of a challenge in the next, despite claiming the first three games of the second set against the Canadian. Gavrilova held firm as Bouchard mounted a comeback attempt, saving three break points at 3-2 before sealing the victory in 78 minutes.

Kokkinakis started confidently and claimed the first set, before Pospisil dug deep to force a decider. With the match evenly poised midway through the deciding third set, Kokkinakis eventually took a break point opportunity in the sixth game and then served it out for the win in one hour and 53 minutes.-Agencies