Tommy Robredo came from a set down to beat Mario Ancic, as Spain beat Croatia 3-0 in their Hopman Cup match at the Burswood Dome on Monday.
After Anabel Medina Garrigues gave Spain the lead with a two-set win over Mario's younger sister Sanja, world number seven Robredo recovered to win the match between the two highest-ranked men in the mixed team competition 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
A single break was enough for Ancic to claim the opening set but Robredo battled back and levelled the match with a stooping volley to break the world number nine in the 12th game of the second.
An increasingly confident Robredo made the crucial break in the sixth game of the decider before wrapping up victory in two hours and four minutes
Earlier, world number 27 Medina Garrigues showed no sign of any New Year hangover as she used her superior mobility and court speed to see off the 18-year-old Ancic 6-3, 6-1.
"It's difficult for me to play in front of all these people, it's a lot of pressure," Medina Garrigues said in a courtside interview.
"I've only played before this many people maybe four or five times. But this is good for me, it will improve my tennis."
Medina Garrigues took full advantage of a nervy performance from Ancic, breaking in the opening game, courtesy of the first of five double faults from the Croat, and again in the ninth to clinch the first set 6-3 in 34 minutes.
The 24-year-old Spaniard, a winner of two titles in 2006, broke Ancic twice and blasted three consecutive aces in the fifth game to go 5-0 up in the second before wrapping up victory with her second match point in an hour and three minutes.
In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the Spanish pair completed a clean sweep of the tie with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
