PERTH (Australia): Roger Federer ensured Switzerland would have the chance to defend their Hopman Cup name with a straight-sets win over Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas at the blended teams event in Perth Thursday.
The 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) win by means of the 20-time Grand Slam champion in his males's singles tournament gave the Swiss a 1-0 lead of their Group B stumble upon, but in addition intended they had been guaranteed a spot in Saturday's ultimate in spite of in the end losing the tie.
In the ladies's singles, Maria Sakkari levelled the tie with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic, earlier than the Greeks gained the deciding blended doubles in three units.
Bencic and Federer beat the German pairing of Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev in closing 12 months's decider, and there's a robust chance it is going to be the very same pairing on Saturday, which might be a first for the event in what is predicted to be its closing 12 months.
The 37-year-old Federer kept his unbeaten file this week intact in opposition to the 15th-ranked Tsitsipas, however there was little between the pair in both units.
Federer discovered himself down 4-1 within the first set tie-break, however fought back and was handed a collection point by means of a double fault for Tsitsipas, which the Swiss champion transformed with an ace.
A delightful drop shot arrange three tournament issues in the second one tie-break, and Federer took the second one of the ones to close out the rubber.
Federer, who gained his first Hopman name back in 2001 with Martina Hingis, was thrilled with the intention to information the Swiss into every other ultimate.
"I'm very happy, the goal was always to get to the finals," he mentioned.
"On best of that, I am taking part in neatly and it was an exciting tournament in opposition to Stefanos.
"I thought Stefanos came out and performed a really perfect tournament and so did I.
"Very little unforced errors, it was very good quality tennis, it could easily have gone three sets."
Earlier within the day, Serena Williams declined to speak to the media after completing a clean sweep of her Hopman singles fits.
The winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams was made to paintings just a little tougher than anticipated by means of younger Brit Katie Boulter within the United States' ultimate group tie, however prevailed in immediately units to make it three victories from as many outings as she prepares for the approaching Australian Open.
Brits Boulter and Cameron Norrie gained the tie 2-1 after clinching the deciding blended doubles, however twin Hopman winners Williams and Frances Tiafoe had lost their opening two ties and had been already out of contention.
Williams' 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) win over the 97th-ranked Boulter followed wins over Bencic and Sakkari previous within the week.
Currently ranked 16th, Williams needs just one more Grand Slam singles name to equivalent the file of Australian Margaret Court, however hasn't gained because the Australian Open in 2017.
She gave birth to her first daughter in late 2017 and was overwhelmed within the Wimbledon and US Open finals closing 12 months.
It was at the latter that she had a big meltdown all over her loss to Naomi Osaka within the decider.
With the Australian Open in Melbourne not up to two weeks away, Williams dropped just one set in her singles fits, despite the fact that at different occasions she gave the impression to be troubled by means of a right shoulder drawback and she or he had both ankles strapped throughout the week.
In the boys's singles, the struggling Tiafoe led 5-3 within the first set, however gained just one more recreation in losing 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to Norrie.
The Brits gained the blended doubles and Williams wasted little time departing the development, bypassing the standard post-match interviews.
The 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) win by means of the 20-time Grand Slam champion in his males's singles tournament gave the Swiss a 1-0 lead of their Group B stumble upon, but in addition intended they had been guaranteed a spot in Saturday's ultimate in spite of in the end losing the tie.
In the ladies's singles, Maria Sakkari levelled the tie with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic, earlier than the Greeks gained the deciding blended doubles in three units.
Bencic and Federer beat the German pairing of Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev in closing 12 months's decider, and there's a robust chance it is going to be the very same pairing on Saturday, which might be a first for the event in what is predicted to be its closing 12 months.
The 37-year-old Federer kept his unbeaten file this week intact in opposition to the 15th-ranked Tsitsipas, however there was little between the pair in both units.
Federer discovered himself down 4-1 within the first set tie-break, however fought back and was handed a collection point by means of a double fault for Tsitsipas, which the Swiss champion transformed with an ace.
A delightful drop shot arrange three tournament issues in the second one tie-break, and Federer took the second one of the ones to close out the rubber.
Federer, who gained his first Hopman name back in 2001 with Martina Hingis, was thrilled with the intention to information the Swiss into every other ultimate.
"I'm very happy, the goal was always to get to the finals," he mentioned.
"On best of that, I am taking part in neatly and it was an exciting tournament in opposition to Stefanos.
"I thought Stefanos came out and performed a really perfect tournament and so did I.
"Very little unforced errors, it was very good quality tennis, it could easily have gone three sets."
Earlier within the day, Serena Williams declined to speak to the media after completing a clean sweep of her Hopman singles fits.
The winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams was made to paintings just a little tougher than anticipated by means of younger Brit Katie Boulter within the United States' ultimate group tie, however prevailed in immediately units to make it three victories from as many outings as she prepares for the approaching Australian Open.
Brits Boulter and Cameron Norrie gained the tie 2-1 after clinching the deciding blended doubles, however twin Hopman winners Williams and Frances Tiafoe had lost their opening two ties and had been already out of contention.
Williams' 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) win over the 97th-ranked Boulter followed wins over Bencic and Sakkari previous within the week.
Currently ranked 16th, Williams needs just one more Grand Slam singles name to equivalent the file of Australian Margaret Court, however hasn't gained because the Australian Open in 2017.
She gave birth to her first daughter in late 2017 and was overwhelmed within the Wimbledon and US Open finals closing 12 months.
It was at the latter that she had a big meltdown all over her loss to Naomi Osaka within the decider.
With the Australian Open in Melbourne not up to two weeks away, Williams dropped just one set in her singles fits, despite the fact that at different occasions she gave the impression to be troubled by means of a right shoulder drawback and she or he had both ankles strapped throughout the week.
In the boys's singles, the struggling Tiafoe led 5-3 within the first set, however gained just one more recreation in losing 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to Norrie.
The Brits gained the blended doubles and Williams wasted little time departing the development, bypassing the standard post-match interviews.
Federer leads Switzerland to Hopman Cup final
![Federer leads Switzerland to Hopman Cup final]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 03, 2019
Rating:
