The Netherlands have made a mockery of the Hopman Cup formguide, sweeping past second seed Argentina with consummate ease at Perth's Burswood Dome.

On paper, former French Open champion Gaston Gaudio and 26th-ranked Gisela Dulko had far too much pedigree for Dutch journeyman Peter Wessels and rising teen Michaella Krajicek.

But it meant little as firstly Krajicek swept past Dulko in straight sets, before Wessels played out of his skin in a 6-2 7-6 (7-5) win that sealed the tie 2-0.

The Dutch team had to get past China in a qualifying tie just to reach the main draw, but is now well placed in Group B.

Like Krajicek in her match, Wessels felt the fact it was so early in the new tennis season was a major factor in his upset victory.

"A lot of players are a little bit rusty in the beginning of the year," he said.

"You saw that with Gaston, who wasn't playing his best tennis.

"But I played good, served unbelievably well and just played my game."

Wessels, 27, has never reached great heights following a promising junior career.

His sole ATP title came on grass in Newport in 2000 and he reached a career-high ranking of 72 in February 2005.

Currently ranked 145th, Wessels was expected to struggle against Gaudio, a clay-court specialist who has improved on hard courts over the past 12 months.

But, continuing the trend of this year's Hopman Cup, history meant little when the action got underway.

Upsets have littered this year's draw and Wessels, who performed admirably on his Hopman Cup debut last year, was determined to produce another.

Wessels beat Mark Philippoussis and Wayne Black last year before withdrawing from his match with eventual winner, the Slovak Republic's Dominic Hrbaty, with a chest muscle injury.

This year there was no sign of what was to come when Gaudio raced to a 0-40 lead on Wessels' opening serve.

Wessels survived and games went on serve until the fourth, when the Dutchman produced a stinging backhand passing shot on break point to open a 3-1 lead.

Gaudio was shellshocked and also showed some early frustration, particularly when he was called for his third foot-fault in just three service games.

Wessels' second break was sealed to love when a disconsolate Gaudio hit a limp volley into the net as the Netherlands clinched the set 6-2.

The second set was a far tighter affair but Gaudio's temper boiled over in the tiebreak.

Called for yet another foot fault early on, Gaudio screamed his displeasure.

On the next point a netted forehand was the final straw as the Argentinian slammed his racquet onto the court.

Wessels held his nerve and won the tiebreak 7-5 to wrap up the tie.

Argentina then salvaged some pride with a 4-6 6-3 10-5 victory in the dead mixed doubles rubber, winning the contest in the deciding match tiebreak.

The Dutch face Australia on Tuesday, while Argentina clashes with tournament favourite Germany on Wednesday.

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