Perth WA, Australia, 31 December 2013 | tennis.com.au

Sam Stosur and Bernard Tomic’s loss in the live mixed doubles rubber has handed Italy victory in the two nations’ Hopman Cup tie on Tuesday.

The Aussies went down 6-3 6-4 to the Italian combination of Flavia Pennetta and Andreas Seppi.

The tie was poised at 1-1 after Stosur’s loss to Pennetta and Tomic’s three-set victory over Seppi.

After losing to Canada in its opening tie, Australia’s hopes of winning the 2014 Hopman Cup have been dashed.

More to come …