PERTH: Roger Federer ended a memorable 2017 the best way he began it with a singles win at the blended teams Hopman Cup in Perth on Saturday.
ALSO READ: Federer and Nadal, tennis' timeless love tale
His straight-sets victory over Japan's Yuichi Sugita confirmed Federer was once sharp for his upcoming Australian Open name defence, capping off an unusual yr through which he claimed two Grand Slam titles and climbed back to quantity two in world scores.
It also gave Switzerland the lead in their Group B tie in opposition to the Japanese, ahead of Belinda Bencic sealed the tie for the Swiss with a straight-sets win over Naomi Osaka.
Federer began his 2017 campaign in Perth and given the good fortune which adopted, the 36-year-old was once willing to copy his preparation for Melbourne by way of returning to the Hopman Cup.
ALSO READ: Two many years of Federer, and nonetheless going strong
Speaking after his 6-4, 6-Three win over the 40th-ranked Sugita, the Swiss star stated he was once getting into the new season extra confident in his sport than the ultimate.
"I feel much more in a rhythm," he stated.
"Last yr, I used to be like I'm hoping I'm going so to hit my first serves, and I'm hoping it'll determine as much as it did in the apply.
"I believe all those query marks are not truly there this time round, which is a pleasant thing.
"I think it was a great start."
While quite a lot of his primary rivals, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, have battled fitness problems this yr, Federer stated his frame was once in easiest form heading into 2018.
"I'm healthy and had a great off season," the 19-time Grand Slam champion stated.
"The body's great, it couldn't be better, so I couldn't be happier."
Despite his age, Federer added he felt like he was once nonetheless as aggressive as ever.
"I feel like the game has evolved again and I've made some adjustments," he stated.
"I am trying to hit through the backhand more and have a bit more pop on the serve."
Federer only wanted one break in each set to slide past Sugita in just 66 mins and while he looked a fragment rusty every now and then, he also produced quite a lot of stylish strokes to thrill a sell-out crowd and show he would once more be a pressure subsequent yr.
Bencic, ranked 98th on this planet however continuing to rebuild her occupation after wrist surgical treatment this yr, then edged her well past Osaka, ranked 30 puts higher at 68, winning 7-Five, 6-Three in 91 mins.
In the blended doubles the Swiss completed a blank sweep of the tie with a 2-4, 4-1, 4-Three (Five/1) win underneath the Fast4 structure.
Earlier at the opening day of the tournament, the United States pairing of CoCo Vandeweghe and Jack Sock triumphed over Russian duo Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Karen Khachanov 2-1 in their Group B tie.
The American pair had been beaten in the earlier Hopman Cup ultimate initially of the yr and world quantity 10 Vandeweghe kick-started their bid to move one better with a 6-Three, 6-Three win over Pavluchenkova.
Sock, ranked 8th on this planet, then overcame a second-set lapse to beat Khachanov in 3 sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-Three.
The Russians had a comfort victory in the blended doubles rubber.
ALSO READ: Federer and Nadal, tennis' timeless love tale
His straight-sets victory over Japan's Yuichi Sugita confirmed Federer was once sharp for his upcoming Australian Open name defence, capping off an unusual yr through which he claimed two Grand Slam titles and climbed back to quantity two in world scores.
It also gave Switzerland the lead in their Group B tie in opposition to the Japanese, ahead of Belinda Bencic sealed the tie for the Swiss with a straight-sets win over Naomi Osaka.
Federer began his 2017 campaign in Perth and given the good fortune which adopted, the 36-year-old was once willing to copy his preparation for Melbourne by way of returning to the Hopman Cup.
ALSO READ: Two many years of Federer, and nonetheless going strong
Speaking after his 6-4, 6-Three win over the 40th-ranked Sugita, the Swiss star stated he was once getting into the new season extra confident in his sport than the ultimate.
"I feel much more in a rhythm," he stated.
"Last yr, I used to be like I'm hoping I'm going so to hit my first serves, and I'm hoping it'll determine as much as it did in the apply.
"I believe all those query marks are not truly there this time round, which is a pleasant thing.
"I think it was a great start."
While quite a lot of his primary rivals, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, have battled fitness problems this yr, Federer stated his frame was once in easiest form heading into 2018.
"I'm healthy and had a great off season," the 19-time Grand Slam champion stated.
"The body's great, it couldn't be better, so I couldn't be happier."
Despite his age, Federer added he felt like he was once nonetheless as aggressive as ever.
"I feel like the game has evolved again and I've made some adjustments," he stated.
"I am trying to hit through the backhand more and have a bit more pop on the serve."
Federer only wanted one break in each set to slide past Sugita in just 66 mins and while he looked a fragment rusty every now and then, he also produced quite a lot of stylish strokes to thrill a sell-out crowd and show he would once more be a pressure subsequent yr.
Bencic, ranked 98th on this planet however continuing to rebuild her occupation after wrist surgical treatment this yr, then edged her well past Osaka, ranked 30 puts higher at 68, winning 7-Five, 6-Three in 91 mins.
In the blended doubles the Swiss completed a blank sweep of the tie with a 2-4, 4-1, 4-Three (Five/1) win underneath the Fast4 structure.
Earlier at the opening day of the tournament, the United States pairing of CoCo Vandeweghe and Jack Sock triumphed over Russian duo Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Karen Khachanov 2-1 in their Group B tie.
The American pair had been beaten in the earlier Hopman Cup ultimate initially of the yr and world quantity 10 Vandeweghe kick-started their bid to move one better with a 6-Three, 6-Three win over Pavluchenkova.
Sock, ranked 8th on this planet, then overcame a second-set lapse to beat Khachanov in 3 sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-Three.
The Russians had a comfort victory in the blended doubles rubber.
Roger Federer ends memorable 2017 with win at Hopman Cup
![Roger Federer ends memorable 2017 with win at Hopman Cup]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
December 31, 2017
Rating:
