Local favourite Matthew Ebden's come-from-behind win ensured Australia beat France on the opening day of the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth Saturday. Ebden came from a set down to beat the higher ranked Lucas Pouille as he and Ashleigh Barty beat the French duo of Pouille and Alize Cornet 2-1 in their Group A tie.

World number 15 Barty had given Australia the early ascendancy with a polished straight-sets win over Cornet, a former Hopman Cup winner. Ebden then secured the tie for the host nation by coming from a set down to beat Pouille, who went cold after a blistering start. Ranked 46th in the world, Ebden was playing in front of his hometown crowd and turned the match by snaring the second set tie-breaker after looking likely to be blown away by Pouille early. Ebden raced to a 6-2 lead in the tiebreaker and then held off the 32nd-ranked Frenchman to level the match.