Former world No 1 Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill gave the top-seeded United States a decisive victory over unseeded France in a Hopman Cup tennis clash at Burswood Dome here Monday.

The pair, runners-up in the million dollar (500,000 US) mixed

72nd.

Seles had to fight hard to get home in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-4 in 62 minutes.

Then the 24-year-old Gambill (ranked 21st) wore down a determined Arnaud Clement, 24, (18th) to win 6-4, 6-4 in 91 minutes.

In the doubles, Seles and Gambill coasted home 6-1, 6-4.

The Americans are aiming to go one better than last year when they were beaten by Swiss pair Martina Hingis and Roger Federer in the

teams' event last year, both won their singles encounters before wrapping up the mixed doubles to give the US a 3-0 clean sweep.

The 28-year-old Seles -- currently ranked eighth -- recovered from a shaky start to overpower Virginie Razzano, 18, who is ranked

final of the eight-nation contest.

Gambill said: "I got a little tentative at the end of the singles, but it was a great start to my year.

"Arnaud is a great scrapper and I am delighted to beat him, even though I am frankly a bit out of

shape.

"That is one of the reasons I am here. I will be in shape by the end of the tournament.

"I just aim to keep improving in the new year, and if I do, I think I have a chance to beat anyone when I am playing well."

Gambill was pressed hard by Clement before taking the first set in 47 minutes.

But the American gained the ascendancy in the second set, breaking in the third and fifth games.

"There were too many breaks of service against me. But it was my first match of the season, and it was not easy," Clement said.

Seles said she had expected her clash with Razzano to be tough.

"She was a top junior player in the world, so it was no surprise that she fought so well," she said.

Seles said she still had the hunger to strive to regain her position at the top of her sport.

"This is why you play," she said. "But I want to try not to peak too early this season.

"I had not played any matches for three months, and it's always a bit nerve-wracking when you return, but once I got into it today, I felt good."

Razzano said she had not been nervous in her clash with Seles.

"It was a good experience to play here," she said. "But it was a bit difficult to play with men in the doubles."

Seles, slow into her stride, slipped to 2-3 in her opening set against Razzano, but recovered quickly, claiming the set after snatching four games in a row.

In the second set, Seles broke her opponent in the opening game and completed victory with relative ease despite Razzano's tenacious efforts.