Isner injury puts Spain into Hopman final

PERTH: A tournament-ending knee injury to American John Isner on Thursday handed Spain a berth in this weekend's final of the Hopman Cup.

The US pairing of Isner and Venus Williams were set to face Spain's Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues on Thursday, with the winner to progress to Saturday's final.

However, Isner withdrew from the tournament on Thursday morning citing a right knee problem, handing Spain a 3-0 victory and passage into the final for the sixth time.

Spain have won the mixed teams title three times, most recently in 2010, when Tommy Robredo and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez lifted the title against Great Britain's Laura Robson and Andy Murray.

Isner looked troubled by his right knee in both his singles matches for the United States this week, losing in straight sets to South Africa's Kevin Anderson and France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The withdrawal of Isner, who won the event in 2011 with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, ended Venus Williams' hopes of joining her sister, Serena, as a Hopman Cup winner.

With Isner out, Verdasco found himself playing against Isner's little-known Australian hitting partner, 16-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis, winning in straight sets despite an unexpectedly spirited showing from the youngster.

Williams then played another exhibition match against Medina Garrigues, winning 6-3, 6-4 to round out her preparation for the Australian Open in good style.

The 32-year-old won all three of her singles matches during the week and said she was happy with her form heading into the year's first Grand Slam. (AFP)