Roger Federer has become the most successful player in Hopman Cup history after leading Switzerland to a 2-1 win in an enthralling final of the mixed teams tournament in Perth Saturday.
In what is tipped to be the final edition of the unique tournament, the best was saved for last as Federer became the first player to win three Hopman Cups, teaming with Belinda Bencic for the duo's second consecutive title.
For the second year in a row, the Swiss beat the German pairing of Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber by claiming a deciding mixed doubles rubber loaded with drama.
It was Switzerland's fourth title overall, behind only the United States with six. Federer first won the Hopman Cup back in 2001 when he teamed with Martina Hingis.
The 37-year-old gave the Swiss the early ascendancy with a straight sets win against Zverev, before Kerber squared the tie by beating a dogged Belinda Bencic to set up the mixed doubles decider.
Federer was a dominant figure in an extraordinary doubles match as the Swiss claimed the abbreviated format 4-0, 1-4, 4-3 (5/4) to clinch the title.
Fittingly, it was Federer who served out the match in the third set tie-break, having been unable to do so earlier in the set, when after an extended rally Zverev dumped a backhand into the net to hand the Swiss victory.
- High-octane -
In the men's singles, Federer bounced back from a November loss to Zverev in London to beat the big-serving German 6-4, 6-2 and make it a clean sweep of his singles matches in Perth for the second year running, less than two weeks before he defends his Australian Open title.
It was a high-octane match, with plenty of big serves and clean winners, but Federer was able to answer everything the 21-year-old threw at him.
He broke Zverev in the 10th game of the first set and then tightened the noose on the German, with two more breaks in the second set.
Federer, who also beat Zverev in three sets in last year’s Hopman final, clinched the match with a typically crisp forehand volley.
He was pleased to maintain his unbeaten singles record during the week, during which he never dropped his serve.
"I am happy I was able to maintain the good, high quality tennis I showed all week," he said.
"It is good to finish on a singles performance like this, I was able to come up with some good serve and volley and it all worked out today."
World number two Kerber appeared set for an easy win in her singles match against Bencic, taking the first set and then claiming an early break in the second.
The German served at 5-4, but the match took a sudden twist as Bencic broke back, only for Kerber to immediately break again.
For a second time Kerber was unable to serve out the match, as Bencic forced it to a tie-break.
Kerber had two match points at 6-4, but Bencic again hung on grimly and won the next two points.
It wasn't until Kerber's third chance that a backhand winner secured the 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win.
Critical was Kerber's ability to convert all four of her break points during the match, while Bencic was only successful on two of seven.
Kerber praised Bencic's tenacity, saying she was always a determined opponent.
"She was fighting until the last one (point)," she said.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
PERTH, Australia -- Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber steered Germany closer to a second successive Hopman Cup final after winning their singles matches against lower-ranked French opponents in Perth Wednesday.
The German top 10 duo, beaten in last year's final of the mixed teams tournament by Swiss duo Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic, made it two wins from as many group outings, beating France 2-1.
Kerber had to come from a set down to beat feisty Alize Cornet, while Zverev squandered a second-set match point before defeating Lucas Pouille in three sets.
In the mixed doubles, both sides took a very relaxed attitude to the dead rubber match and the French gained some consolation with a straight sets 4-3, 4-3 win.
Ranked second in the world, Kerber served for the first set in her singles match against the 45th-ranked Cornet, but then dropped three successive games as the Frenchwoman claimed the set.
However, Kerber settled and claimed the next two sets to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in just over two hours and maintain her perfect singles record in Perth, with six wins from as many outings.
Kerber said Cornet was always a tricky opponent.
"She is a fighter," Kerber said.
"I had my chances in the first set, but she was playing good then and I missed a few balls.
"I was trying to find my rhythm in the second set, trying to still keep going and then the third set I think it was just two or three points that decided it."
Ranked fourth in the world, Zverev started well against the 32nd-ranked Pouille and took the first set comfortably on the back of a service break in the eighth game.
However, the match tightened up in the second set, with both players holding set points.
Zverev had a match point during the second set tie-break, while it wasn't until his sixth set point that Pouille levelled the match.
The pair traded service breaks early in the third set, but Zverev gained a second break for a 4-2 lead when the Frenchman double faulted and that sealed Pouille's fate.
"Lucas fought well and played very well in the important moments sometimes," Zverev said, after winning 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.
"He is a very tough opponent.
"I just hope to keep going with Angie and seeing how far we can go."
Unbeaten in their two group outings, the Germans will be guaranteed a spot in Saturday's decider if they beat Australia on Friday.
France are out of contention after losing both their ties.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
Roger Federer emerged triumphant from a historic first meeting with Serena Williams in the Hopman Cup on Tuesday, but tennis was the true winner as two of the game's greats treated fans worldwide to an unforgettable evening.
Defending champions Switzerland sealed a 2-1 victory over six-times winners United States that left them bottom of Group B but the result mattered little to over 14,000 fans in Perth and millions around the world who had eagerly awaited the contest.
Federer and Williams, holders of a combined 43 singles Grand Slam crowns, won their singles matches to keep the mixed doubles clash alive and the deciding match lived up to the hype it had generated as both players left the court with big smiles.
The contest had been described by local media as the most anticipated clash involving men and women since 1973's "Battle of the Sexes" where Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match.
While that meeting between 39-times major winner King and former men's world number one Riggs was a grudge match, there was only mutual respect between Federer and Williams, who posed for selfies before indulging autograph hunters.
"It was great fun. What a pleasure. What an honor. Thank you for making it possible," 20-times Grand Slam winner Federer, who is gearing up to defend his Australian Open title this month, said.
"I was nervous returning. People talk about her serve so much and I see why it is such a wonderful serve because you just can't read it."
Serena said the match, which was full of laughter and had an exhibition feel to it, was a "great experience" and one she hoped would not end as quickly as it did.
"I'm sorry it had to finish, I was just warming up. It was such fun, we grew up together. It was super cool. I wanted to take pictures and bring my baby out," the 23-times Grand Slam winner said.
"This guy is great, both off the court and on the court. I think his serve is super-underestimated. It's a killer serve, you can't read it. I watched him all the time and I never knew how amazing it was."
Playing in front of the highest single session attendance in the tournament's history, the team of Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Williams and Frances Tiafoe 4-2 4-3(3) to clinch the tie to top the group.
Earlier, Federer hardly broke sweat in his singles match against Tiafoe, taking his game up a notch at 4-4 in the first set to win 6-4 6-1.
Williams, who had powered past Greece's Maria Sakkari in straight sets on Monday, then fought back from a set down to seal a 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over Bencic to level the contest at 1-1.
Switzerland have two wins from two games ahead of Thursday's meeting with Greece, while U.S. take on Britain next.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
