Report of the day
Thanks for your company, enjoy the rest of the day.
What does that mean for the actual Hopman Cup? Team USA are bottom of Group B, which is led by all-conquering Switzerland, who look on course for Saturday’s final. The competition resumes tomorrow with France v Germany.
Andy Murray has been in action in Brisbane as the tennis world decamps to Australia.
And here’s that aforementioned selfie.
The GOAT selfie 😍 #HopmanCup pic.twitter.com/DYsjTt3akA
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 1, 2019
Which followed this:
That @rogerfederer volley 🤤
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 1, 2019
Team Switzerland beat Team USA 4-2, 4-3 #HopmanCup pic.twitter.com/bTCr2GkwcT
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Roger and Serena speak, before taking a selfie together (yes, really).
RF: “It was great fun. What a pleasure. What an honour. Thank you for making it possible.”
SW: “It was a great experience. I’m sorry it had to finish; I was just warming up. It was such fun, we grew up together. It was super cool. I wanted to take pictures and bring my baby out.”
RF: “I was nervous about the serve. It was nerve-wracking, too. I thought I had got to win this point but it is Serena Williams. I made the serve and I missed the area and I want to thank you for missing the ball.”
SW: “This guy is great, both off the court and on the court. I think his serve is super-underestimated. It’s a killer serve, you can’t read it. I watched him all the time and I never knew how amazing it was.”
History was made and Federer was the victor though Serena, it has to be said, was not at her best. Time to worry about that shoulder?
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Bencic/Federer beat Williams/Tiafoe 4-2 4-3!
Second set tie-break: First to five, remember, with no need to win by two. There is some confusion over who serves when. The USA pair sure to 2-0. Then another Serena error makes it 2-1. Then Tiafoe makes a mistake from a fine Bencic daisycutter to make it 2-2. Serena recovers her fire to smash an overhead to make it 3-2. Tiafoe thought he had won an ace for 4-2 but VAR shows he was fractions out. Federer makes it 3-3 and then serves. It goes to 4-3 and match point. Then his superb, angled volley off Tiafoe’s return gives the Americans no chance.
And that’s it!
Second set: Bencic/Federer* 3-3 Williams/Tiafoe (*denotes server):
Federer serves to Williams from the start. Serena keeps feeling her right shoulder; she has not been at her best today. Federer serves straight to 40-0. Then Tiafoe’s failed return of a Federer volley takes us into the tie-break.
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Second set: Bencic/Federer 2-3 Williams/Tiafoe* (*denotes server):
Tiafoe serves again, and Bencic misses a chance for a winner at 15-15. Williams does the same in the very next point. A Federer error makes it 40-30 to the Americans. Then Serena has a winning chance as Federer makes a mess of a lob. That leaves a deciding point which Tiafoe holds after Federer’s return comes back to him. A nervy hold for the Americans.
Second set: Bencic/Federer* 1-2 Williams/Tiafoe (*denotes server):
Bencic serves and the first flurry sees Tiafoe smash the ball into Federer’s chops. No real harm done and it’s all smiles. The crowd giggle as only a tennis crowd can. Bencic is pushed to 15-30 and then makes a fine serve to level. Her next shot is not good, as she skews the ball into the house lights. Federer comes to the rescue. Here is the deciding point from this Fast4 malarkey: and Bencic booms an ace past Williams. Great stuff from her after going a little wobbly.
Second set: Bencic/Federer 1-2 Williams/Tiafoe* (*denotes server):
Serena serves now, and commits her own double fault. Then she and Federer get involved in a rally, he at the net, she at the baseline. Tiafoe fluffs his lines for the smash and the game goes to 30-30. Then Bencic makes a mess of her own chance to smash home and win a break point. Bencic goes long with a return to hand the Americans the lead in this set.
Second set: Bencic/Federer* 1-1 Williams/Tiafoe (*denotes server):
Federer serves once more. A battle at the net ends up with the ball smashing off Tiafoe. There is some banter and japery as he falls swanlike to the floor. This *is* a friendly, after all. Meanwhile, the Federer serve fails him as he double faults. Then comes a beauty for 40-15, then another that Serena can only drift into Bencic’s orbit. The game is claimed with a smash.
Second set: Bencic/Federer 0-1 Williams/Tiafoe* (*denotes server):
Tiafoe serves first again. Which is something of a surprise. He is receiving plenty of advice from Serena though it is her error that takes it to 30-30. Bencic misses a winner to miss out on a break point. And Serena, at the net, takes the game with a crashing overhead.
Bencic/Federer win the first set 4-2
First set: Bencic/Federer* 4-2 Williams/Tiafoe (*denotes server):
Federer serves. And hits a winner on his second serve. Tiafoe has no answer to the next, to make it 15-15. Then Federer takes control. He wins the set with a crashed forehand that Serena can only wallop low into the net.
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First set: Bencic/Federer 3-2 Williams/Tiafoe* (*denotes server):
Tiafoe and Federer exchange some volleys; the American wins the first duel. Then Federer’s sharp volley, from hip-level, has Serena shouting out in anguish. A Bencic return gives the Swiss break point at 15-40. Then Tiafoe’s error hands the game over. Federer will serve for the set.
First set: Bencic/Federer* 2-2 Williams/Tiafoe (*denotes server):
Bencic is last to serve. She catches out both opponents with her first two serves. Tiafoe, though, does some great work to charge forward and pick up the ball to make it 15-30. Then comes a punched Federer volley for 40-15. A double fault from Bencic is untimely but she recovers herself to win the next point with some sharp volleying.
First set: Bencic/Federer 1-2 Williams/Tiafoe* (*denotes server):
Williams serves now. And Tiafoe’s smash bludgeons the ball beyond Bencic for 30-0. Serena launches a bomb at Federer for her first serve. It goes out. The second serve catches him out, though. Then Serena claims the game with a serve down the centre line.
First set: Bencic/Federer* 1-1 Williams/Tiafoe (*denotes server):
Federer serves first for the Swiss team. Serena’s first attempt at a winner on his serve goes wide. Then Tiafoe plays a neat, angled drop shot to make it 15-15. Federer then beats Williams on his serve. Tiafoe fails with the next Federer serve, and Serena cannot return his wide-angled serve to level up the match.
First set: Bencic/Federer 0-1 Williams/Tiafoe* (*denotes server):
Tiafoe serves first. And the first point sees Federer, at the back of the court, chase down a Williams smash. Then Federer makes a mess of his own smash but then it goes to 15-30. A smart volley at the net from Serena makes it 30-30. Then a good serve from Tiafoe takes it to 40-30, which is served out.
Mixed doubles match: Bencic/Federer v Williams/Tiafoe
They are knocking up. The first question is who will serve first for the Americans? And after that, will Williams be able to ace Federer?
The toss is made and Tiafoe and Williams will serve first. A reminder from the TV graphics that the two greats have won $200m in prize money between them. Add in the endorsements and all the rest of it, and you are perhaps looking at half a billion dollars.
And on second are Tiafoe and Williams. Plenty of smiles for them too.
Federer looks cool, as per usual as he takes to the court. Bencic, his partner, looks remarkably smiley considering what befell her just a few minutes ago, particularly in that second set.
Here come the players. House of Pain’s Jump Around - AKA the worst record ever made and a pox on any occasion - is the current soundtrack.
The crowd are getting revved up for this one. And with good reason, as this is something of a historic occasion. How are they getting revved up? They are dancing to The Village People’s YMCA.
Federer is just as excited as Serena ahead of this meeting of legends.
“What a thrill it is to play Serena tonight!" - @rogerfederer sounds as excited as the rest of us about his match against @serenawilliams later today! Watch #HopmanCup live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player pic.twitter.com/JHKvBJCfpe
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 1, 2019
Reminder that the mixed doubles will be a Fast4 match. What does that mean? Wikipedia takes the strain.
“The shortened format offers a “fast” alternative to tennis, with four points, four games and four rules: there are no advantage scores, lets are played, tie-breakers apply at three games all and the first to four games wins the set.”
And if we have a tie-break?
“Similar to 12 point tiebreaker but with a few format changes especially on service order. First player to 5 points. Each player serves twice starting in deuce court switching sides after 4 points. At 4-all, a coin toss by the umpire (or racquet spin if none is present) determines who will serve the ninth point with the receiving player choosing sides on the final point.”
Got that? Good.
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Serena speaks:
She played really well. I knew I could play better; that was always in my mind. [On the mixed doubles] It’s super exciting and I just feel honoured to be on the same court as him. He has had a fantastic career and it’s not done yet. We are the exact same, we have been there since the Nineties. Regardless of what happens, this is a moment I will always cherish.
What that means is that we do go down to the mixed doubles and that first ever meeting between Serena and Federer will be ‘live’.
Williams beats Bencic 4-6 6-4 6-3
Williams tries to get the job done quickly with two powerful serves taking her to 30-0. A wild backhand takes Bencic back to 30-15. Bencic calls the ball out and stops running as she asks for the VAR. She is right. 30-30 it is. Then comes match point after a huge Serena serve. She needs a second serve, though. And then comes a similar challenge from Serena, but she is wrong. The ball was in. Some smiles between the players. At deuce comes a big serve then it’s another second service on the second serve. After a short rally, Bencic hits the ball out. Her challenge is in vain.
It’s now 5-3 to Williams in the final set. Serena challenges a shot that was called out. Bencic was beaten and the Williams radar is in full working order. Then she rips a shot that beats Bencic at the net. The Swiss player then serves out with two excellent serves.
It’s 5-2 but that took a long while; Williams’ level has dropped a little as she closes in on victory. Perhaps she has an eye on the mixed doubles ahead but some loose play in evidence. And there is a scream of agony as she concedes a break point with a wild slash at the ball. Then she manages to save it when Bencic is a little too timid when a winner was there for the taking. It goes to deuce twice over. Then comes a trademark thrash down the line to save another break point and a wide serve that catches Bencic out. Another deuce, though, beckons after a howler of a missed winner. Some anger with herself after an ace pings through and then another serve blasts through Bencic’s racket.
Bencic has not given up just yet; to go 30-0 up she hits the ball straight at Serena, and then goes to 40-15 with a lovely, sweeping winner. The game is claimed with some ease, and it’s 4-2.
Nasty slip by Bencic, who has had her fair share of injuries over the years, but she gets up to play a lob that catches Serena out. Serena, though, roars “come on!” in true style as she makes it back to 30-30. Then comes 40-30 via an ace. And the game and 4-1 arrives via a Bencic miss.
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The agony piling on for Bencic? She looks bewildered as she makes another error. She does, though, battle back to go 40-30 up. And then serves well to win the game. Perhaps she is not finished just yet.
Williams sends Bencic around the houses with some cool and calm stroke play as she serves to love to go 3-0 up. Nice and easy. Too easy; Bencic looks gone.
Bencic, perhaps understandably, has lost something of the lustre she showed in that golden run of points and games. Williams bludgeoned a winner to claim a break point and then Bencic double faults. That’s 2-0 to Williams. And the road to victory has opened up.
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Williams serves out the first game in the third set with some ease, and looks far calmer than when the pressure went on in the latter part of that second set.
A break in play sees Bencic get lost on the way to the dressing room, which doesn’t bode well for her state of mind. That was a big chance blown in that final break. She barely offered up a defence to Serena.
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Williams wins the second set 6-4 (1-1)
Bencic misses a big winner to put Williams 30-15 up. And she knows it, too. Then comes an error as she nets a ball she would expect to thrash home. Then, she fails to put pressure on the next point. Bencic fell apart at the moment of truth.
Serena keeps the volume high but this time she is triumphant as she sees out her service game to go 5-4 up. There were a couple of double faults thrown in, though. She can claim the second set with a break in the next.
A wail of agony from Serena as she misses a service return. Whatever happens now, she does not look in the best of nick; plenty to work on ahead of Melbourne it would seem. Another howl of indignation marks Bencic making it 4-4.
Williams pulls herself off the ropes to go 4-3 up. Bencic’s wiles take her to 30-0 up and a break seems likely. But the game swings back to 30-30. And then 40-30, when Bencic goes for a misses a big winner.
The quality of service from Bencic has been of seven-star level. What she lack in power is made up for with the variation and skid she puts on the ball. She cruises to a hold ad it’s 3-3.
Serena is making plenty of noise out on the court; she knows she is in a real battle. There may be questions over her mobility, too. But nevertheless, she serves out to go 3-2 up.
Bencic is not yet for wavering. Her serve continues to be excellent. And she wins the four game to go 2-2, with Serena making a real mess of the return for game point.
Bencic runs into the net to concede a point when Serena had made a desperate block volley. That proves to be the key point of a game the American wins to go 2-1 up in the second set.
Bencic’s serving is catching Williams out time and again; her second serve to go to 40-0 has Serena calling out in anguish. The Swiss player serves out to love for 1-1.
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Serena tries to lift herself after the break. That big guns come out with some fearsome hitting. And she serves out to win the first game of the second set to 15.
Bencic wins the first set 6-4
Another Williams error makes it 11 points in a row. Then it’s 12. And that equals a set point for Bencic, which Williams saves for number 13. The next point, though sees Williams go long.
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What a turnaround: it’s 5-4 to Bencic! Serena responds with venom in her own serve but her level of intensity appears to have dropped off. She faces a break point, having decided not to challenge a point that was hers and called out. And loses that, broken to love. That’s four games in succession for Bencic.
It’s 4-4! Bencic begins her service game with three excellent serves and then Williams makes an error on the fourth. Serena, all of a sudden, looks the flustered one.
Well well! Bencic has broken Serena and we are back on serve. It’s 3-4 and back with serve.
Bencic has not given up just yet and serves far better to take it to 2-4. As these two are set to meet in the doubles later on, she cannot just let this slip away.
Bencic holds her serve to 15 for 1-3. Some relief in her eyes and the crowd show their approval. Nobody likes a walkover though 4-1 to Serena is soon to arrive.
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A slight wobble at the start of Serena’s second service game but she blasts back from 30-0 down. Bencic is being overwhelmed and looks overwhelmed but does scrape to deuce but another salvo takes it to 3-0.
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Serena holds her serve with gusto, and the serve itself looks in full working order for 2019. She needs to win here, of course. And she breaks Bencic to go 2-0 up, having done so to love. This may be a brief affair.
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Some New Year’s R-Fed for your delight and delectation.
You have got to be kidding, @rogerfederer! What a way to bring in 2019 👏👏👏 #HopmanCup pic.twitter.com/wiYCHoFle5
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 1, 2019
Belinda Bencic is in the tunnel, looking relaxed as she waits for Serena. Plenty of smiles; Federer lifted the pressure with that win. In fact, she doesn’t even wait for Williams and walks on to court. Serena, wired for sound with some decorous headphones, steps out. And looks hugely confident. The response from the crowd is suitably loud. Serena elects to serve first.
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“I hope I don’t get injured from here until the doubles,” deadpans Federer. “I’ll stay on the bike and keep the engine on. I had a really late night last night on New Year’s Eve … I’m joking,” he laughs. “And what a match – I’m really looking forward to playing Serena here in Perth.” The crowd like that. Right, I’m going to hand over to my colleague John Brewin now, who will keep you up to speed with the score between Serena Williams and Belinda Bencic before taking you through the mixed doubles game-by-game.
Federer beats Tiafoe 6-4, 6-1 (Switzerland 1-0 USA)
Tiafoe ends a run of seven games against him to get a game on the board but he can’t break Federer, who takes the first singles match for Switzerland with minimum fuss, winning to love. He was tested in the first set and then the youngster crumbled as he found form. It’s happened to many against the great man. Tiafoe will have to regroup for mixed doubles. “I played another good match, I’m very happy. It’s quick conditions. He has a big first serve. He was going big on his second serve in that match too.”
Federer is back in the groove now. He’s found his rhythm and is sending the youngster scuttling back and forth in vain attempts to put out fires. He holds, breaks him again and then holds again with little trouble to take a 5-0 lead.
Federer looks like he wants to conserve some energy for mixed doubles. He starts to turn the screw and races into a 2-0 lead in the second set. Tiafone battles to save two breaks points against Federer but he can’t save the third.
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Federer wins first set 6-4
Like the pro he is, Federer moves through the gears when it matters most. He gives Tiafoe the runaround, forcing his opponent into a couple of errors and taking the game to 30-40. The youngster cracks and hands the set to Federer.
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This is a decent match. Federer is not having it all his own way and is still trying to force one too many shots against the powerful Tiafoe. It’s 4-4.
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Federer hasn’t been at his slick best here, looking a little rusty at times as he calibrates for a new season. He’s made five unforced errors to the youngster’s four. He still has little trouble holding serve, mind, and takes a 2-1 lead before Tiafoe works his socks off to level at 2-2.
We won’t be updating this liveblog game-by-game until the mixed doubles when, hopefully, the tie will still be in the balance, but we will keep you up to speed with the scores from the two singles matches. I can tell you that it’s 1-1 after a plucky first game by the big-serving Tiafoe, who held after being taken to deuce.
First singles match: Federer v Tiafoe
Roger Federer takes little over two minutes to win his first game to love against Tiafoe, not giving his young opponent a sniff. Switzerland are the defending champions in the Hopman Cup. They won their first match so they can afford a slip-up but the USA unexpectedly lost to Greece so need to win here to have any chance of progressing to Saturday’s final.
Preamble
Hello and happy new year. Let’s hope 2019 is a good one. It certainly starts with a mouthwatering tennis match-up. Roger Federer and Serena Williams will meet on court for the first time! The two 37-year-old tennis greats have 43 grand slam titles between them – and in Perth they will get to trade blows competitively. Federer can’t wait:
I admire everything she has done both on and off the court. I have always thought how is it to return that serve and go head-to-head with her. It’s very exciting for us. I hope tennis fans tune in and watch it because it’s going to be one time and probably never again in this type of competition.
There are two singles matches before the mixed doubles. Federer takes on the talented 20-year-old world No 39, Frances Tiafoe, and then Williams faces world No 54 Belinda Bencic. USA were beaten by Greece in their first Hopman Cup round-robin match while Switzerland defeated Great Britain. The final is on Saturday.
There was tennis action elsewhere in Australia overnight. Andy Murray made a winning return at the Brisbane International and was almost in tears afterwards as he spoke about his battle back to fitness and how he is unsure how long he can go on for.
And at the same tournament Britain’s Johanna Konta, who is down to word No 37 now, scored an upset win over the world No 6 Sloane Stephens. here the report of that one.
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