Perth, Australia  - Dominik Hrbaty and Dominika Cibulkova clinched a third Hopman Cup title for the Slovak Republic as they swept Russia 2-0 in the Friday final.

Hrbaty finished off a six-hour tie as Marat Safin sent a return out, with the 31-year-old Slovak earning a 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) victory.

That scoreline, added to Cibulkova's opening defeat of world number three Dinara Safina 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-4 assured Hrbaty of his second trophy at the eight-nation teams competition.

Hrbaty teamed with Daniela Hantuchova to lift the honours in 2005, while the Slovaks also won in 1998.

Hrbaty overcome more than 20 aces off the racket of the streaky Safin, who teamed with his younger sister for the first and presumably last time in their standout careers.

Hrbaty's win lifted his record to 8-7 against Safin, his frequent practise partner.

Cibulkova put her brain into neutral and let her instincts take over for a nail-biting 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-4 victory against Safina.

The 19th-ranked Cibulkova notched her first ace of the evening to produce a match point, which was followed by a return wide from the Russian.

Cibulkova admitted she encountered a case of nerves as she led in the final set at the eight-nation team competition.

"I was thinking too much," confessed the winner. "I was leading 5-1 and suddenly it was 5-4. I was thinking of the final. But I had to stop and start to play my game.

"I was really fighting, but this is the first time I beat her," said Cibulkova of the world number three Russian before Hrbaty won his game. "I"m just so happy, but we are still one victory away from this title. And the last step is always the toughest."

Cibulkova dropped the opening set against Safina in a tiebreaker but immediately began her fightback.

The Slovak lost twice to the Russian in 2008, but past history made little difference in the heat of battle.

Cibulkova levelled at a set apiece as she ran away with the second and continued her progress in the third.

Safina rallied from 1-5 down but fell short in the end after more than two and a half hours. (dpa)