Federer lifts Swiss to crown

Tennis world No 2 Roger Federer has paid tribute to Martina Hingis on the way to winning his second Hopman Cup crown.

Federer gave Switzerland a perfect start in the final against Germany by coming from a set down to beat world No 4 Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4-7) 6-0 6-2 at Perth Arena on Saturday night.

But former world No 1 and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber levelled the tie for Germany with a 6-4 6-1 thumping of Belinda Bencic in a match that lasted just 63 minutes.

Switzerland secured the title by winning the Fast4 mixed doubles 4-3 (5-3) 4-2.

Federer was just 19 when he won the Hopman Cup in 2001 alongside then-world No 1 Hingis. Since then, he has won a record 19 grand slams to cement himself as a legend of the sport.

Federer paid tribute to the influence Hingis had on paving the way for his decorated career.

‘‘She had a great career and to have that in a small country like Switzerland is very rare,’’ Federer said.

‘‘I could look up to her and think, ‘Wow, how is she being so mentally strong and so consistent at such a young age and I can’t do that yet in practice and in the matches, let alone week in week out’.

‘‘It made me also believe with hard work and dedication you get really far, because I didn’t believe that much at that point when I was younger, I thought it was more all talent.’’

Switzerland now has three Hopman Cup titles to its name.

Federer won all four of his singles matches at the event, and is full of confidence heading into his Australian Open defence.