Swiss roll
World No. 4 Zverev comes out blazing before losing steam
Federer masterminds his country’s triumph in Hopman Cup as they dismantle Germany in the mixed teams’ event |
Switzerland won their third Hopman Cup title yesterday as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber 4-3(3) 4-2 in the deciding mixed doubles.
It was Federer’s second Hopman Cup triumph after victory in 2001 alongside then world number one Martina Hingis.
“She [Hingis] had a great career and to have that in a small country like Switzerland is very rare,” Federer said after Switzerland’s latest triumph.
“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.”
Roger Federer’s perfect start to the new year continued when he dismantled the game of world number four Alexander Zverev in the final of the mixed teams’ Hopman Cup in Perth yesterday.
Unbeaten in his three singles matches in the tournament before the final as he prepared for his Australian Open title defence, the 19-time Grand Slam champion dropped the first set against Zverev, but recovered to win in three sets, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0, 6-2. It gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the final, with Federer aiming to add to the title he won in Perth with Martina Hingis in 2001.
Zverev came out all guns blazing in a high-intensity first set where both players produced moments of brilliance, with both holding multiple break points.
However, the young German managed to prevail in the tiebreaker as he aimed to repeat his singles win over Federer at the Hopman Cup last year, when all three sets were decided by tie-breakers.
Federer’s frustration was obvious, as he dropped his racquet after missing an easy volley, then launched a ball towards the roof. However, it soon passed as he started to blunt the German’s power and his superior court craft turned the momentum.