Federer makes smooth return in Swiss win
ASUNCION: Australian KTM rider and defending champion Toby Price got the 2017 Dakar Rally under way on Monday as competitors set off on a high-octane, highaltitude 8,800km (5,500 mile) continent-crossing trek from Asuncion in Paraguay to Buenos Aires. The first stage of the two-week rally, which will take participants via Bolivia through unforgiving mountainous terrain, is a 454km run, comprising 38.5km of specials, to Resistencia, in northeastern Argentina. Price, who has suffered more than two dozen bone breaks in his illustrious career which saw the New South Wales-born rider become the first ever Australian and indeed non-European winner of the race last year, set out at 11.04 am (1404 GMT) ahead of French auto champion Stephane Peterhansel. Peugeot’s Peterhansel will be out to add to an extraordinary record in the race which comprises six wins apiece in both moto and auto categories His Peugeot teammate Sebastien Loeb, nine-time rally world champion, embarked upon his own challenge minutes later. Organisers said a total of 318 vehicles were joining the fray — 144 motos, 87 cars, 37 quads and 50 lorries, though competitors were watching the skies beforehand following days of violent tropical storms in the Paraguayan capital. Participants swiftly resumed last-minute technical checks PERTH, Australia: Roger Federer showed no signs of rust in his first competitive match for six months when he outclassed Dan Evans 6-3, 6-4 at the Hopman Cup on Monday.
The 17-time grand slam winner underwent knee surgery in February and, after missing the French Open with a back injury, announced in July that he needed extensive rehabilitation and would be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Federer walked out to a standing ovation from more than 13,500 fans at the Perth Arena and breezed to an easy win over Evans, putting Switzerland 1-0 ahead in their match against Britain in the mixed team event.
“The standing ovation coming in, it was very special. I’m here now enjoying and looking forward to the week of course,” the 35-year-old said in a courtside interview.
Asked what keeps him going, Federer said; “I guess it depends also on how you get hurt. I got hurt filling up a bath for my children. It’s not really the way I wanted to leave this game.”
The former world number one, who has slipped to 16th in the rankings, said he enjoyed the time out but had started to miss tennis.
“You can’t be more happy to return back on a Centre Court, taping your ankles, tying your shoes and walking out and getting that kind of welcome,” he said.
Federer has not won a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon in 2012.
“It would be nice to win another one, of course I’d even take twothree-four,” he said.
“It’s tough at the top. A lot of good guys are there right now, a lot of young guys are coming up too. The gap’s definitely not very big but I gave it chance. Let’s see what happens.” GASQUET POWERS FRANCE
Cagey veteran Richard Gasquet led France to a 2-1 win over Germany at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth on Monday.
Gasquet beat rising star Alexander Zverev in their men’s singles match and then teamed with Kristina Mladenovic to win the deciding mixed doubles rubber.
Although Gasquet, 30, is ranked six places above the teenage Zverev, after seeing in the New Year ahead of the traditional pre-race briefing Sunday evening. Riders and drivers will have to negotiate some 4,000km of special stages before reaching Buenos Aires on January 14. Altitude concerns Five of the race stages will be held at above 3,500 metres altitude — and participants will get a day off on Sunday to see a little of the Bolivian capital La Paz, the world’s highest capital at 3,600m. The thin conditions of the region will pose a severe endurance challenge. “There is a little uncertainty as regards the altitude... I don’t really know how we shall react — drivers, co-drivers, but also assistants and mechanics. “If you feel a little off one day you could lose everything and that’s true for all drivers, even those who have spent time at altitude and are well prepared,” said Peterhansel, who started off in 1988, when the race still remained true to its African origins. For Loes, “it’s difficult to make a forecast but certainly the ambition is there, no doubt about that,” he said of his own chances. For Peterhansel, “it’s very open. I’d say there are six or seven drivers capable of winning — at Peugeot of course but also Toyota, and even Mini, with Mikko Hirvonen coming up on the rails,” following his maiden fourth place showing last year. the German last year became the youngest player to break into the top 20 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.
Zverev’s power was on display early as he unleashed a string of winners off both wings and was rewarded with the first break of serve in the seventh game.
Gasquet immediately broke back to level at 4-4, withstood break points in the ninth game and clinched the set with another break in the 12th game.
He needed just one break of serve in the second set, in the sixth game, to see off the challenge of a frustrated Zverev 7-5, 6 in 86 minutes. Gasquet then teamed with Mladenovic for a comprehensive 4-2, 4-1 win over Zverev and Petkovic in the mixed doubles under the quickfire Fast Four format.
Germany had earlier taken the lead when Andrea Petkovic benefited from an early arrival in Australia and an unorthodox preparation to put in a quality performance against Mladenovic, winning 6-2, 6-1.
“I normally spend Christmas with the family but I decided it was time to make a sacrifice,” said Petkovic.
HOPMAN CUP RESULTS Switzerland bt Great Britain 3-0 Men’s singles: Roger Federer (SUI) bt Dan Evans (GBR) 6-3, 6-4 Women’s singles: Belinda Bencic (SUI) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 Mixed doubles: Bencic/Federer Watson/Evans (GBR) 4-0, 4-1 France bt Germany 2-1 Women’s singles: Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-2, 6-1 Men’s singles: Richard Gasquet Alexander Zverev (GER) 7-5, 6-3 Mixed doubles: Mladenovic/Gasquet (FRA) bt Petkovic/Zverev (GER) 4-2, 4-1 (Fast four) (SUI) bt (FRA) bt