Bouchard puts buttock pain behind her

Former world No.5 Eugenie Bouchard hopes her Australian Open campaign won't be derailed by a buttocks injury that she picked up at the Hopman Cup on Friday.

She has looked out of sorts at the mixed-teams event, losing all three of her singles rubbers.And the 23-year-old suffered an untimely injury scare on Friday when she injured her buttocks during the second set of her 6-4 6-4 loss to Belgium's Elise Mertens.

"My arse hurts," Bouchard said after the match."I think it's maybe a little strained or a little pulled or something.

"There was a really sharp pain. I felt it going wide on my backhand and landing on my serve with my left leg."I'm going to the physio now to see what it is. I don't think it's too bad but it was getting worse throughout the match."Bouchard, who is due to fly out of Perth on Friday to compete at the Hobart International, was hopeful rather than confident the injury wouldn't affect her Australian Open hopes.

"I'm hopeful but you never know," She said.

"You always get little muscle pulls here or there. But this one specifically, no [I've never had it before]."

World No.7 David Goffin can secure the tie win for Belgium with victory over Vasek Pospisil.

However, even if Belgium win the tie 3-0, Germany are in the box seat to reach the final.

Germany are yet to be defeated at the mixed-teams event, and will qualify for Saturday's final with victory over Australia on Friday night.

If Germany lose, then it opens the door for Belgium to scrape through.

Switzerland's pairing of Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic have already secured their spot in the final by topping Group B.

Mertens required treatment on her eye during her win over Bouchard, but she said it wasn't anything serious.

"There was some sunscreen in my eyes," Mertens said.