France demolished South Africa 3-0 in ruthless style in Perth, Australia, yesterday to become favourites to beat the Slovak Republic in today's final of the Hopman Cup tennis mixed teams tournament.

Cedric Pioline and Mary Pierce carried second-seeded France to their first final in 10 attempts in the competition - and their previous head-to-head clashes with Karol Kucera and Karina Habsudova suggest they should have an edge over the surprise team of the eight-nation contest.

World number seven Pierce and Pioline, 20th in men's rankings, both won their singles clashes in the vital tie with South Africa.

Pierce (22), the former Australian Open champion, convincingly overcame fourth-ranked Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-3 in 73 minutes in the women's singles.

Pioline (28), took exactly the same time to grind to a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 success over Wayne Ferreira in the men's singles.

France completed a clean sweep when they won the mixed doubles, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

Pierce has dropped only one singles set in this tournament while beating Germany's Anke Huber, America's Chanda Rubin and now Coetzer.

Pioline has won every singles set, defeating Tommy Haas of Germany and American Jonathan Stark before getting the better of the South African.

Pierce has met Habsudova four times, winning in Stuttgart in 1994 and the German Open in 1995.