Perth, Australia  - Simone Bolelli scored a breakthrough victory over world number seven Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3 to draw his nation level with hot favourite France at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday.

The Italians went in with nothing to lose and the tie at first looked like going with the form guide as French number one Alize Cornet dominated Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-2.

Perth, Australia  - Dinara Safina will get a rare chance to team with her big brother Marat Safin as the pair lead favourite Russia into play at the Hopman Cup.

The eight-nation team event begins on Saturday with title prospect France (Gilles Simon, Alize Cornet) facing Taiwan. Russia goes into action on Sunday - pending Marat's last-minute arrival - with an opening tie against Italy.

Safina, ranked a career-high number four on the WTA, won four titles last season and played three other finals including the French Open against Ana Ivanovic and the Beijing Olympics against Elena Dementieva.

Perth, Dec. 17 : A desperate Australian captain Ricky Ponting has instructed pace bowler Brett Lee to taken on a leadership role in attacking the South African batters during their series Down Under.

Lee, who has played 74 Tests and taken over 300 wickets, Ponting has been asked to make an instant impact in the absence of his injured new-ball partner Stuart Clark.

"Brett''s really up for the challenge. I''ve singled him out in the team meeting yesterday (Monday) as the leader of the attack," the Daily Telegraph quoted Ponting as saying after training.

"I know he really enjoys that role so I''ve put it back on to him to make sure he''s leading the way right from the start of this series," he added.

Perth, Dec. 17 : In an explosive claim leading into the first South Africa-Australia Test at the WACA Ground in Perth, South African captain Graeme Smith says Warne has told him how he should go about bringing down Australia''s batting champions Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.

Writing an exclusive column in The Daily Telegraph, Smith reveals he used his stint at the Rajasthan Royals under Warne''s captaincy to gain inside information on Australia''s batsmen.

Perth, Dec. 16 : Australian spearhead Brett Lee says Australia''s priority must be to maintain their vice-like grip on Graeme Smith as part of the effort to leave some early scars on South Africa in the first Test.

Lee was quick to accept the extra responsibilities that will fall to him in the absence of his injured new-ball partner Stuart Clark.

The Proteas captain comes into the three-Test series, starting at the WACA Ground tomorrow, as the leading run-scorer this year.

Perth, Dec. 16 : Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that even Brett Lee will be expected to take his turn pushing into Perth''s famous sea breeze.

Ponting also confirmed that Peter Siddle will play the first Test against South Africa, beginning on Thursday, replacing Stuart Clark, who is out with tennis elbow.

Clark had surgery in Sydney on Monday afternoon to remove bone spurs on his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the international summer.

"It''s a big blow for Stuart and the team," Ponting said.