Switzerland's 2018 Hopman Cup is underway and it started with a comfortable win against Japan as Roger defeated Sugita 6-3, 6-4 and Bencic defeated Osaka 7-5, 6-3 to take an unassailable lead ahead of the doubles which the Swiss also won 2-4, 4-1, 4-3 (5-1) to sweep the tie 3-0.
It was an impressive match from Roger who looked sharp from the word go as got the job done in just 66 minutes. With it being an exhibition things are obviously a bit more relaxed and that suits Fed's game as he just went for all his shots with no second-guessing. As a result, he blazed 27 winners and the backhand looked to be in great nick yet again. You can see some of the stats below:
Match Stats
| Yuichi Sugita | Roger Federer | |
| 1st Serve % | 63% | 60% |
| Aces | 2 | 5 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 2 |
| Winners | 13 | 27 |
| Unforced Errors | 11 | 22 |
| Break Points Won | 0/2 | 3/5 |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 13/27 (48%) | 26/27 (96%) |
| Total Points Won | 50 | 65 |
| SABR | 0 | 1/1 (100%) |
Highlights
Next up is Russia on January 2nd, evening slot again so it's 5.30pm local. That's 9.30am for those of you in the UK and 10.30am for most of Europe.
Federer vs. Sugita Hopman Cup 2018 Rating
Serving
Returning
Net Play
Winner to Unforced Error Ratio
Break Point Conversion
SHARP
Sharp start from the Swiss who looked relaxed as he ripped some big groundstrokes from the word go.
Tennis is baaaack!
🎾 it’s a nice start to the year with a Slam then a bit of a break for me before Dubai, not having to do back to back M1000 posts 😀
Wow super quick!
Great to see him back in a good form. Agreed he’s such a great player for the exhibition. Was fun to watch both singles and doubles 🙂
Yeah looked like they all had fun, especially Sugita he was loving his slam dunk 😀
#GoRoger
Good start, Roger in uber relax mode which is good. I pray for good health and good draw at AO
Relaxerer.
Didn’t he win that SABR point? If I remember correctly Sugita dragged it long or wide.
Can’t remember now, but you could be right. Will tryi find a clip. I was trying to remember when I filled it out but couldn’t remember so just thought it was a lost point like most of them 😀
Yeah you were right, he did win it. 3-1 in the 2nd, Sugita went long with an easy bh.
Great to be back with the Hopman Cup. Being in Australia seems to suit Roger and it seems to be more fun for the fans both in the stadium and on TV too.
So glad that the serve and everything else seems to be working again, and Belinda Bencic is playing so well.
Great timing for the UK too, what could be better.
Did you notice that Eurosport has a stream with commentary and one without?
By the way, Sid, I am no longer a fan of the no-ad rule, but I do like the no-let rule which always seemed slightly crackers as they allow lets in all other shots.
Thanks for your post here, Jonathan, looking forward to the chat here during the week.
Wish I had watched the no commentary stream, they were mega annoying commies today. Non stop waffle.
Yes we tried the commentary one during the doubles, it wasn”t terribly interesting, the commentary I mean, not the match. And yes, Sugito loved copying the Federer leap-smash.
Beri gude, beri faste, beri fun, whoaaa! Master Fed live on Saturday morning, what else to go with breakfast?
Yeah I wish all his matches were on at that time! Aus Open incoming which usually means some daft alarms set.
So nice to see our man back in action! Nike, same old stuff? Come on, the money he brings in for you!
All the evening matches are in the middle of the night for me and no tv broadcast for some reason. Don’t think I’ll be staying up.
Roger looks fit and happy. It will be interesting to see who shows up at the AO….think about that later.
It’s not 2018 yet, no need for a new outfit. No point spoiling the AO ensemble for an exho!
THere’s also a nice clip of his interview that you might want to add to the post. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgHQD2eJCsU
Good interview, although I thought he was going to keep him out there until Bencic walked on court, question after question!
Tennis back, Rog back, and Jonathan back! PeRFect! Nice match, looked sharp, and Sugita let him hit a lot of balls, as he chases down so much! Good opener as Sock may not be so easy! Draw will be interesting at the AO but given the current rash of ongoing injuries, who knows who will show up!?
First 2 sets of the new season in the bag and entertaining they were too! Allez!
Happy New year everyone!
Sugita is very quick, was a fun match.
Fed reckons 2 of the guys currently on the comeback won’t make the AO. I guess Djoker is a huge doubt now, Weird injury…
Yes. Must be … 6 months he hasn’t played?
And then makes a return but withdraws immediately. I wonder if he’s been playing practice matches?
I really enjoyed the match last night. Such delicious tennis from both. So pleased to see Roger swinging freely and hitting those jaw dropping winners. Hopman Cup seems to really suit him. Should’ve gone there this time around instead I decided to go to Melbourne in a couple of weeks. Well I hope he comes back next year so I can watch him there.
Cool. what days have you got tickets for?
I’ve got only first round for now. I was too traumatised in 2015 when he lost the third round match when I got tickets for three rounds from that on. Such a peace of mind to know I won’t miss him!
I’m going to Melbourne just to watch him play. Not sure which days to get the tickets. Do you think he plays Tuesday and Thursday night sessions? Don’t want to do that and find out that I might end up watching Nadull.
Hey all. Hope all of you had a great Christmas. Hoping everyone will have a great & especially healthy 2018. Roger already started it great, so did #benderer 🙂 I am loving Hopman Cup & great to see that Roger is in great shape. Sooo hoping it continues in 2018 and especially during AO. But it will. Mark my words. You all thought 2017 was great…. 2018 WILL BE MUCH BETTER & GREATER FOR THE GOAT 🙂 And don’t forget…. there will be a or there will be talk of a “Roger Slam” 🙂
#goingfor20
#goingfor21
#goingfor22
#goingfor23
#still&alwaysbelievinginthegoat 🙂
The Hopman Cup is a pleasure to watch. Fed seems to be in great shape and so happy to be there. I didn’t know Belinda : she plays very well.
Another quizz for you :
(I got 7).
http://lebuzz.eurosport.co.uk/viral/quiz-roger-federer-rafa-nadal-said-34327/
Happy and healthy New Year to all of you and the best champion of all !
That was a fun quiz. I got 10/12.
7!? That’s poor 😀 although English 2nd language? I guess that makes it harder. Sue no excuses.
I got 100% for once. Easy to tell from the wording.
Yes I agree – 7 is very poor… and it was before champagne (not after)… I was somewhat like A. Zverev in his Goffin match this morning I guess… not completely fit yet for the beginning of the season. I will have to be betterer anyway… back to work tomorrow. 🙂
I got #1 and #12 wrong. Fed could have asked his mom for wardrobe advice? Jonathan, ever seen that show Mary Kills People…. You never know what’s in your next drink.
Finally, tennis is back! Wishing a happy New Year to everyone!
Bonne année
Great match. Glad Roger won. Karen is a good player. Upped his game in the 2nd set, but so did the Goat 🙂
I do wonder though… with the same conditions as AO, why dont more players play HC and why didnt Roger play it more before?? I know it is not guaranteed that you win AO with it, but still….