Melbourne:  Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna provided a good reason for New Year celebrations by lifting Hopman Cup debutants India to an upset win over Czech Republic at Perth today.

Sania and Bopanna won the Group B tie 2-1 after clinching victory against the third seeds in the deciding mixed doubles match which witnessed a nail-biting finish.

Sania got India off to a perfect start in the women's singles defeating the 42nd-ranked Lucie Safarova 6-2 6-2 in just 55 minutes.

However, the Czech Republic bounced back in the men's singles, where 13th-ranked Tomas Berdych trounced Rohan Bopanna 6-2 6-2 in 46 minutes, tying the tie 1-1.

Bopanna, world No 277, had no answer to the all-round play of the much-higher ranked Berdych.

In the crucial mixed doubles clash, Sania and Bopanna kept their cool to edge past the fancied duo of Safarova and Berdych 6-3 5-7 7-6 (10-5) after an 89-minute battle.

The Indians next face Croatia on Wednesday.