It is the first time Safina and older brother Safina have teamed together anywhere in the world and they secured the win with victories in their singles encounters over Italy's Flavia Pennetta and Simone Bolelli.
The women's match was a close fought affair between the world's No. 3 and 13 with Safina having to come from behind in each set to win 7-5, 6-3.
Fresh off the plane from Russia into Perth on Saturday night, Safin wore some war wounds from his New Year's back home but did not drop serve against Bolelli to win 7-6 (5), 6-4 on the back of 14 aces.
The Italians then got a measure of revenge winning the mixed doubles 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/2) in a result that keeps them well in the hunt for the final.
While Safina won the women's singles in straight sets, it was a tremendously see-sawing battle. Pennetta opened up a 3-1 lead in the first set and consolidated that to 5-3, but then the Russian won the next four games to claim it 7-5.
It ended in a cruel way when Pennetta was called for the first foot fault of the tournament.
Pennetta again started the second set in bright fashion to take a commanding 3-0 advantage after winning the first two games without Safina winning a point, but the Russian then dominated winning six straight games to take the set 6-3, and sew up the win for the Russians.
In the men's match, Safin and Bolelli held serve right through the first set to send it into a tie-break. Safin's serve was well on song with 10 aces and that helped him claim the tie-breaker 7-5.
Having scored a win in their only previous meeting, Bolelli wasn’t about to go away, though, and the two held serve through the first six games of the second set before Safin scored the first break.
It came in the seventh game to give him a 4-3 lead and Safin consolidated to go up 5-3. Safin went on to hold serve and break Bolelli again to take the second set 6-4 to clinch the Tie.
Pennetta and Bolelli were desperate to do well in the doubles and started well, taking the set 7-5. However, Safina and Safin hit back in the second to win it 6-4 and force a deciding Match tie-break.
When there, the Italian duo dominated to take it out 10-2 to score the victory.
Italy next plays in Tuesday's day Session against France, while Russia has until Wednesday evening before taking on Chinese Taipei.
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