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PERTH. — The Hopman Cup might have saved its best for last as excitement builds for the most anticipated tennis match involving a man and woman since the “Battle of the Sexes” in the 1970s.
Roger Federer and Serena Williams, two of the greatest players in history, will face off across the net for the first time today when United States go up against defending champions Switzerland in the mixed doubles of the unique two-player, mixed teams event.
This year’s tournament is expected to be Perth’s final Hopman Cup and today’s group tie is an early sellout on the back of the prospect of seeing two of the all-time greats, with 43 Grand Slam singles titles between them, on the same court.
“It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it,” said Federer after opening his Hopman Cup campaign with an easy singles win on Sunday.
“I admire everything she’s done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win,” added the 20-time Grand Slam champion of the once-in-a-lifetime match.
“It is going to be one time, probably never again. She is one of the biggest champions in our sport ever, men and women combined, so it is great to be playing against her.” The original “Battle of the Sexes” saw Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in an exhibition singles match in 1973. Federer said he had plenty of experience playing against women, going back to his days as a teenage tour hopeful in Switzerland.
Despite their long concurrent careers and having attended a few Wimbledon champion dinners together, Federer said the pair barely knew each other.
“I don’t know her that well,” he said.
“In the corridors and cafes, walking by each other, sometimes in the past she has asked me how are the kiddies and how is everyone doing, but if I said I know her it would be a bit of an exaggeration.”
Williams has said in a television interview that she was looking forward to getting a picture with Federer for her Instagram page.
“It is the age of social media,” said Federer, with a grin.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams overcame a sluggish start to power past Maria Sakkari in straight-sets at the Hopman Cup yesterday in her first competitive match since melting down in the US Open final. The 37-year-old was rusty and down an early break but did enough to record a comfortable 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory in one hour and 44 minutes in the women’s singles match. The result levelled the tie between the United States and Greece ahead of the decisive mixed doubles match.
Even though both her ankles were strapped and required medical attention during the change of sets, Williams moved freely and looked sharper as the match wore on. “It was my first match back. I was making a lot of errors,” Williams said. “It was great to be back out on match day.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion lost an exhibition match against sister Venus in Abu Dhabi last week, but the Hopman Cup is her first competitive event since her controversial defeat to Japan’s Naomi Osaka at Flushing Meadows in September.
It was an error-strewn start for Williams, who struggled to land her first serve and was broken in the third game. She could have been in a bigger hole if not for saving break points in her first and third service games. A vocal Williams tried to pump herself up in a bid to shake off the stupor and raised her arms skyward after holding serve in the fifth game. A confident Sakkari held the edge until losing her nerve attempting to close out the set in the 10th game.
Williams then found her range and dominated the tie break to close out the first set in 63 minutes. She broke twice in the second set and closed it out with an ace. Williams is a two-time Hopman Cup winner, having triumphed in 2003 with James Blake and five years later alongside Mardy Fish.
In the earlier men’s singles match, No. 15 ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame a second set wobble to defeat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3. It was a confidence boost for the Greek rising star after his shock straight-sets loss to unheralded British played Cameron Norrie on Saturday.
The fancied Greece is looking to rebound after an upset defeat in its opening Group B match against Britain on Saturday. — AFP
Online Reporter