Sealed with an ace. 17 years to the day, Roger Federer rounded out an almost flawless week by claiming his second Hopman Cup title.
Much has changed for ‘Fed’ since his first. 19 Grand Slams are now in his keeping for one, and he is arguably the most worshiped and universally admired sportsperson on the planet.
The Burswood Dome the venue for his 2001 title alongside Martina Hingis now no longer exists, the tournament moved to the modernised Perth Arena in the heart of the CBD.
A NEW HOME: The Perth Arena has been the home of the Hopman Cup since 2013.
Then just 19 years of age, he was yet to win a singles title when he first played in the West. Now he has won 95 of them, including Wimbledon a record eight times.
Federer returned for the tournament in 2017, missing out on a spot in the final after losing to eventual champions France.
On the comeback trail after a six month injury layoff, he was understandably rusty before finding more fluency as the tournament went on, crowds flocking to watch the great man in action.
More than six thousand people watched him in a practice session before the tournament began, massive crowds filing in to watch the ‘Swiss Maestro’ in ties against Great Britain, Germany and France.
Most people probably expected it to be the last time they would see Federer play in these parts.
At 35 going on 36 and with his body starting to show signs of wear and tear, some pundits thought the end might be near. Of course people didn’t know then what they know now.
The mixed doubles tournament served as a launching pad for an unbelievable Australian Federer renaissance, as he stunned those same punters that put a line through his name by winning the Australian Open in a five set epic against long-time rival Rafael Nadal.
SUCCESS DOWN UNDER: Roger Federer with his Australian Open title (right) alongside Australian Tennis legend Rod Laver and runner up Rafael Nadal. SOURCE: The Australian.
This was a man who was meant to be on the way out. He’d had his time in the sun. He’d spent six months out of the game. The next generation of players, the Dimitrov’s, the Zverev’s and the Thiem’s were meant to be pressing for Grand Slam titles.
After skipping the clay court season (because let’s be honest, who beats Rafael Nadal on clay?) Federer set his sights on an eighth Wimbledon title. He had blown previous chances to go past Pete Sampras’ seven titles, having last won the most coveted tennis tournament on the calendar in 2012.
After losses to Novak Djokovic in 2014 and 2015 and a semi-final exit brought on by a knee injury against Milos Raonic in five sets in 2016 it seemed as though the Wimbledon ship had sailed.
Someone forget to tell Federer though, who brushed aside his opponents with a brutal efficiency that reminded us of the ‘Fed Express’ in his pomp.
He won the tournament without dropping a set, becoming just the second man after Bjorn Borg (1976) to achieve that feat at Wimbledon.
To prove that age is just a number he also became the oldest male player to win at the All England Club, moving back to world number 3 in the men’s rankings in the process.
HISTORY MAKER: Roger Federer won a record 8th Wimbledon title in 2017. SOURCE: Indian Express.
By the time the year was out he would win seven singles titles including the two Grand Slams and his home tournament the Swiss Indoors in Basel for a record eighth time.
Only injury would stop him from finishing 2017 as world number one, a position he held for 237 consecutive weeks from 2004-2008.
Mid-year it was confirmed that Federer would return to Perth for the 2018 Hopman Cup, generating mass interest in the event for the second consecutive year.
FLASHBACK: Me standing next to an image of Roger Federer and Martina Hingis in action during their 2001 Hopman Cup title.
Having been unable to attend any of his matches the year previous due to work commitments; I was ultra-keen to make sure I saw him live in the flesh this time around.
Not for one second did I think that that opportunity would come in a professional capacity, but that’s how it worked out.
91.3 Sport FM had broadcast several editions of the tournament in years gone past, and we were organised to do so again in 2018.
Asked if I was keen to be part of the broadcast team, I jumped at the opportunity. What better place to witness Roger Federer strutting his stuff on a tennis court than from the commentary box?
A huge crowd again turned up to watch him practice with Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis on the eve of the tournament, a prelude of what was to come.
The achievements of the previous twelve months had only added to the Federer legend, and added to the appeal of seeing him play live.
Having been a sporting idol of mine (and millions of others) since I was a kid, the date 30th December was locked in the diary well out from the tournament.
MUG SHOT: My media pass for the 2018 Hopman Cup.
With a squeaky clean image, well-spoken and without the hint of an ego, Federer is the perfect role model. What he has done for the sport can’t truly be measured in numbers.
Along with Rafael Nadal and in recent years Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, the ‘fab four’ have kept tennis in the sporting limelight for all the right reasons for more than a decade.
And just like that, here I was at the Perth Arena, witnessing the greatest player in the history of the sport take to the court.
A warm Perth Saturday night, fans flock through the turnstiles to watch Federer. 85% of the crowd have miniature Swiss flags, ready to wave at every opportunity.
Federer’s opponent is 29 year old Japanese player Yuichi Sugita, who himself had enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2017, rising from world number 112 to number 40 by the end of the ATP tennis season.
Most people in the Arena wouldn’t have known that. Most wouldn’t have even known his name before entrance to the venue. They hadn’t come to watch Sugita strut his stuff. They had come to watch the man down the other end of the court.
Even in warm ups, the class of Federer is evident. He eases the ball back over the net, yet generates so much power.
He glides across the court, making impossible returns seem easy. He never seems rushed, and seems to have more time to position his shots than his opponent.
THE MAIN EVENT: Roger Federer serves during his match against Yuichi Sugita on night one. SOURCE: Hopman Cup.
Sugita doesn’t play horribly, but simply doesn’t have the class to match it with the King. The iconic, infamous single handed backhand makes an early appearance, sending the crowd in to raptures.
Broadcasting the first set, professionalism takes over and you become immersed in each point, and the players just become names as you describe the action.
The hysteria of calling a legendary player leaves you somewhat, but certain shots remind you of who you are lucky enough to be witnessing with your own eyes.
Sugita holds his own for most of the first set, but one break of serve is all Federer needs to take the first set 6-4.
Taking a seat outside for the second set, the atmosphere is incredible. Every point Federer wins is cheered, the noise deafening for a long rally that ends with a clean Federer winner.
In just over an hour the match is over, Federer winning in straight sets 6-4 6-3. The crowd rises as one to applaud, as Federer turns to every section of the arena to take in the adulation, reciprocating the applause with his racket.
I head quickly downstairs to attend his post match media conference, the local media pack flocking to get some quotes from the Swiss great.
So here I am, face to face with an all-time great sportsperson asking the first question of the conference. “Roger, how was that? Good to dust off the cobwebs?” I asked, trying my hardest not to sound nervous as I did so.
Despite been slightly taken aback by the Aussie expression referring to having a month off the sport he has dominated for so long, he answered the question in detail, looking me in the eye as he did so.
His understanding of the English language is exceptional for a man who grew up in Switzerland speaking Swiss-German, and he answers each question without even a slight stumble. Just as graceful in front of a microphone as he is on a tennis court.
Switzerland clean swept the tie against Japan 3-0, Federer returning to action a couple of nights later early in the New Year against young up and coming Russian Karen Khachanov, nicknamed the ‘Russian Rocket’ due to his serving power and tall frame, standing at 198 cm.
Number 45 in the world, Khachanov produces some blinding winners in Federer’s opening service game, securing an early break of serve.
Sometimes it’s not the greatest idea to poke the bear. Like a red rag to a bull, Federer responds immediately by breaking back, as if sparked in to action by his opponent’s impressive start.
Playing almost exclusively from the baseline and trying to utilise his serve from a great height, Khachanov’s strengths are turned in to weaknesses by Federer, who plays more of a serve and volley game to bring his opponent in towards the net where he is less comfortable.
ALL SMILES: In commentary with Brett Patten (left) and Brett Patten (centre) during the 2018 Hopman Cup.
His ability to return serve is part of what makes Federer so great. Time and time again he has come up against big servers who can hurl the ball down at more than 200 kilometres per hour, and he just finds a way to get the ball back across the net on return and ask questions of his opponent.
There is a certain element of premeditation in his ability to return serve, guessing correctly where his opponent’s serve is going to go, whether it be straight up the middle of the court or the wide serve swinging away. He seems to do it so easily.
More often than not his opponent succumbs, and Khachanov does on this occasion, going down in the first set 6-3.
More than 13,000 people are in the house for the Switzerland-Russia tie, and the noise is incredible. Khachanov doesn’t back down, the 21 year old taking it up to Federer in a brilliant second set, the latter taking it out in a tie break 10-8 in a set that lasts an hour.
FULL HOUSE: Fans take in the Russia v Switzerland tie at Perth Arena.
The young upstart leaves the arena to a large round of applause. The crowd had appreciated his efforts, and recognised a man who had been gallant in defeat. He simply didn’t have the class to match it with the best that’s ever been.
Another Switzerland clean sweep set up an all deciding tie with perennial Hopman Cup favourites USA for a place in the final.
World number 8 Jack Sock was Federer’s opponent, a charismatic and entertaining player who loves to engage with the crowd.
This tie had been sold out for months, two players in the top ten going head to head on a Thursday night at the business end of the tournament.
Sock had suffered an injury two days earlier that had forced him to retire from the tie against Japan, but here he came out swinging.
Heading in to the match, the numbers were not good for Sock. In four previous meetings, the 25 year old from Kentucky had failed to win even a set against Federer.
In front of a record crowd at the venue, the two play out an entertaining tussle, Sock continuing to engage with the crowd and Federer reciprocating.
Sock throws absolutely everything he’s got at the world number two, but Federer is up to the task, producing some clutch points.
He wins in straight sets, by far the most entertaining match of the tournament. With another clean sweep of their opponents, Switzerland are through to the final.
Tournament director Paul Kilderry had his wish. Another sell out guaranteed with Switzerland and Federer in the final.
After an epic Friday night tie between Australia and Germany that came down to the third set of the fast four mixed doubles, the pairing of Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber set up a dream final against the Swiss the following day.
14,008 people pack in to the Arena for the Saturday evening showpiece event of the tournament. As has been the case for the entire week, Federer is up on court first, with the television broadcast beaming in to the Eastern States during prime time hours.
It’s a high quality match up on paper. The greatest of all time and current world number two against up and coming star world number four Alexander ‘Sascha’ Zverev, tipped by many to be a future world number one and multiple Grand Slam winner.
It certainly lives up to its billing in the first set, Zverev dictating terms. For once Federer looks rushed and a little frazzled, the tall German’s serve causing him trouble. Unforced errors creep in to his game the longer the opening set goes on, Zverev taking it in a tie break.
The crowd take an audible breath. Zverev is a good player, and beat Federer in the 2017 edition of the tournament. But this is meant to be Roger’s night. His Hopman Cup. And now he is down a set.
FORMIDABLE OPPONENTS: Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev finished runners up representing Germany in the 2018 Hopman Cup. SOURCE: Bein Sports.
After a moment to pause and refresh, Federer comes out and blitzes Zverev in the second set, taking it 6-0 in just 24 minutes. The first set struggles are long forgotten, sparked in to action by conceding it to his opponent 16 years his junior. It was breathtaking to watch.
Again he glides across the court, making difficult shots look so easy. The ball makes an impeccable sound off his racket. Some players seem to muscle it back over the net, Federer eases it to where his opponent least wants it to go. Precision beats power.
Now it’s Zverev who looks lost for answers, Federer making the running and controlling the match. Once you give Federer an inch, he makes it a mile.
In a stunning turnaround, Federer closes it out for a 6-7 6-0 6-2 victory, his best performance yet in the tournament.
If anyone wondered about his hunger or desire ahead of another tennis season, this served as a stark warning to his opponents. I’m still here, and I’m still the best. A statement of intent.
STARSTRUCK: Asking a question of Roger Federer at the press conference on the opening night of the 2018 Hopman Cup.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber levels the tie at one match apiece with a dominant win over Belinda Bencic, who had been one of the stories of the tournament in her own right on the comeback trail from injury that ruined her 2017 season.
It all comes down to the mixed doubles, both countries chasing their third Hopman Cup title. It’s Bencic who is the unsung hero, her volleying up to the net a highlight.
Unusually Federer is reduced a support role, although his clutch serving helps snuff out any chance Germany might have had to break back in either set.
Fittingly Federer closes it out on his serve, Switzerland taking the mixed doubles match in straight sets 4-3 4-2.
17 years to the day after he held it aloft for the first time, the Swiss Maestro was holding up the Hopman Cup again. Not one crowd member had left. They had come to see the king, and they hadn’t been disappointed.
It was quite an incredible week to witness, both as a broadcaster and fan. The people of Perth literally came to see one man. It was rockstar like. Everywhere you looked there was a Swiss flag, a Federer poster, hat or shirt.
Federer fever had gripped the state, from the moment he landed to holding up the cup. A trip to Rottnest Island and the now infamous Quokka selfie has done wonders for tourism in these parts. The WA Government paid Federer 2 million dollars to come here. It was worth every cent.
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS: Swiss pair Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic celebrate their 2018 Hopman Cup triumph. SOURCE: Perfect Tennis.
As for me, it was a bucket list item ticked off. I had seen the great man play; I had broadcast all four of his singles matches. I was lucky enough to be behind the microphone for the winning point. I got to ask a question or two at him at a press conference.
Perhaps the only person who enjoyed the week long tournament more than Federer was me. We will find out in time whether he returns for the 2019 tournament, but we will always have the memories of Hopman Cup week 2018.
The week me and thousands of West Aussies saw the best that’s ever been. Long live the King.
GREAT TEAM: The Sport FM commentary team of Myself, Joe Sasero, Brett and Darren Patten after the 2018 Hopman Cup final.
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