Federer beats Tsitsipas, sends Switzerland into Hopman final
PERTH:ROGER Federer relied on his trusted serve to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to give defending champions Switzerland a spot in the Hopman Cup final even though the Swiss lost their final Group B tie 1-2 to Greece. Federer trailed 4-1 in the first tie-breaker before reeling off consecutive forehand winners to claw back into it.
The serve continued to dictate play until Federer had break points in the ninth and 11th games but was unable to convert. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, however, raised his game in the tie-breaker to win the match. The Greeks won the women’s singles and mixed doubles.
Earlier, Serena Williams of USA beat Katie Boulter of Britain 6-1, 7-6 (2) to complete an unbeaten Hopman Cup campaign in singles. However, USA failed to progress from Group B.
Switzerland now await the winner of Group A in the final. after dropping the first set in the Brisbane International quarterfinals, conceding only five points in the next set on her way to a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 win over eighth-seeded Anastasija Sevastova.
NISHIKORI WINS
BRISBANE:KEI Nishikori showed he was back to his best form as the World No 9 downed Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the Brisbane International on Thursday.
“I’m trying to go top five, that’s my next goal,” said Nishikori. “The last couple of months of last year I was playing great tennis and I think I’m doing that now, this week.”
Nishikori will now play Frenchman Jeremy Chardy for a place in Sunday’s final.
WOZNIACKI OUSTED
AUCKLAND:TOP seed Caroline Wozniacki was bundled out of the WTA Auckland Classic in the second round on Thursday, beaten in straight sets by 18-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu. Wozniacki was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by the Canadian teenager who is ranked 152nd.