Intro:

Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard combined to give Canada a 3-0 win over Italy on Thursday at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

Script:

Canada maintained a chance of qualifying for the final from Group A of the Hopman Cup, when Milos Raonic beat Andreas Seppi in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Eugenie Bouchard won her singles match for the Canadians to give the North Americans an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Her opponent, Flavia Pennetta was forced to retire following an injury to her right wrist, while trailing 4-0 in the first set.

Bouchard, voted the WTA newcomer of the year in 2013, has won two of her three singles matches in the group stage.

With the rubber already won, the doubles was more of a jovial affair. Despite Raonic holding off on his renouned serve, the Canadian pair beat Seppi and Australian Bojana Bobusic - who'd stepped up for the injured Pennetta - 6-1 6-4.

Canada must now rely on Australia to beat Poland 3-0 later on Thursday if they are to advance to the final on Saturday.