Serena Williams and Mardy Fish won singles matches to give the United States a victory over Australia today and a spot in the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis final at Perth, Australia.

The United States finished with a 3-0 round-robin record in Group B and was the only unbeaten team. Friday's final will be America's ninth in the 20-year history of the tournament.

Williams beat Alicia Molik, 6-2 7-6 (7), and Fish beat Peter Luczak, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10), in singles ahead of the mixed doubles match.

Williams broke Molik's serve to open the match, but had more difficulty in the second set, failing to capitalize on seven break-point opportunities. The match ended when Molik double-faulted.

Williams became upset with her play in the final set, throwing her racket to the court after failing to break Molik's service in the final game before the tiebreaker.

"It was a match in itself," Williams said of the second set. "Alicia played well, it was very tough out there."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

GEORGIA TECH'S OHANA

Paul Johnson officially took over as coach of Georgia Tech yesterday and announced his entire coaching staff, including two assistants with ties to the University of Hawai'i.

Johnson, a former UH assistant, who was Navy's head coach for six seasons before being named last month to replace the fired Chan Gailey, named former UH assistant Mike Sewak as co-offensive line coach and former Rainbow Warrior Buzz Preston as wide receivers coach.

HOCKEY

CANADA, RUSSIA IN SEMIS

Canada rallied to beat Finland, 4-2, to reach the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic yesterday and keep alive its bid for a fourth straight title, while Russia beat the Czech Republic, 4-1, in the other quarterfinal.

Canada will play the United States in one semifinal tomorrow and Sweden will play Russia. The U.S. team and Sweden qualified for the semifinals by winning their preliminary groups.

LAW AND ORDER

MORE TROUBLE FOR LEYRITZ

Former World Series star Jim Leyritz had a suspended license when he was charged with driving under the influence and killing a woman last week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Leyritz was ticketed outside Albany, N.Y., for using a cell phone while driving June 20, and his Florida license was suspended Nov. 23 for failing to answer the summons, according to motor vehicle records.

"He has a suspension on his record. It's current as of today," Ken Brown, spokesman for the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, said yesterday.

The 44-year-old ex-catcher was charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage, police said. His 2006 Ford Expedition crashed at an intersection Friday, hitting the car of Fredia Ann Veitch, 30, who was ejected from her 2000 Mitsubishi Montero and died at Broward General Medical Center.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings and John Paddock of the Ottawa Senators were selected to coach the NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta on Jan. 27. ... Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat Fabrice Santoro, 6-3, 6-3, yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open at Doha, Qatar. ... Sixth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian women's hardcourt championships at Gold Coast, Australia with a 6-3, 6-4 win over French compatriot Nathalie Dechy.

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