ARNAUD BOETSCH gave the eighth seeded French a shot in the arm in Perth yesterday, helping them to a 2-1 victory over fourth seeds South Africa in the Hopman Cup tournament.

Boetsch won his singles encounter against Wayne Ferreira 7-6 7-6 and partnered Catherine Tanvier to take the doubles 6-2 7-6.

The French victory in group A of the round robin tournament virtually put paid to South Africa's chances. On Monday they lost to fifth seeds the United States, while France were beaten by top seeds Croatia.

Ferreira failed to make use of an early 4-1 lead as Boetsch forced the tie break which he won comfortably 7-3.

Both players had their fair share of break opportunities in the second set but the deadlock lasted until a second tie break which Boetsch sailed through 7-2.

Diminutive South African Amanda Coetzer kept her unbeaten record intact with a quick 6-2 6-1 demolition of a limping Tanvier, who is still recovering from surgery on her right knee.

Coetzer held her serves in both sets and kept Tanvier on the baseline with an array of ground strokes.

In a seven hour morning session, defending champions Germany won a hard fought 2-1 victory over second seeded Netherlands in Group B.

Anke Huber won her finely matched singles against Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 3-6 6-4 7-6 and then partnered Martin Sinner to win the decisive doubles 2-6 6-1 6-2.

Sinner lost to Richard Krajicek 7-5 5-7 7-6. Sinner replaced Boris Becker, who decided not to enter the tournament this time after partnering Huber to victory last year.

Becker is competing in the Middle East, in the Qater Open, and yesterday he ended Stefan Edberg's hopes of a winning start to his final year on tour, beating the Swede 6-2 7-5. The German second seed joined top seed Thomas Muster in the second round after the Austrian beat Spain's Javier Sanchez 6-2 7-6.