Next week’s Hopman Cup isn’t an ordinary tournament for Australia’s Daria Gavrilova, it is one where she has the opportunity to rub shoulders with one of her heroes.
Teaming up with Nick Kyrgios in the prestigious mixed exhibition event, Gavrilova will also be joined in the tournament by 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer. Federer is set to make his return to the tour in Perth after ending his 2016 season early due to his troublesome knee. The highly anticipated return of the Swiss player is one that Gavrilova hopes to capitalize on.
“It would be cool,” Gavrilova said about potentially playing Federer. “We can only meet him in the final. So we’ll see.
“He was everyone’s idol. Still when I see him and when he says hello, I get all nervous. He’s still a big idol to me.
“I still haven’t got a picture with him. So maybe I’ll get a chance this time.”
Few will dispute that Federer will be the star attraction in Perth. Nevertheless, Gavrilova and Kyrgios has a chance of achieving history at the tournament. They are bidding to become only the second country in history to win back-to-back titles after defeating the Ukrainian duo of Elina Svitolina and Alexandr Dolgopolov in this year’s final.
Compared to 12 months ago, Gavrilova enters the event with a higher degree of confidence. This year she achieved a ranking best of 24th in the world and reached her first WTA Final in Moscow, Russia.
“It feels great, it feels like I haven’t left,” she said about returning to Perth. “I’m really excited to be here.“I’ve been excited all year about coming back here because I really wanted to come here and defend the title. So it’s really great to have this opportunity again.”
Looking beyond next week’s event, the Australian will be hoping to benefit from the addition of Biljana Veselinovic to her team. Serbian coach Veselinovic has worked with players on the WTA Tour for over a decade, previously mentoring Nadia Petrova, Alize Cornet and Lucie Safarova.
“I was kind of having a few chats with Biljana during Wimbledon, and we thought we could be a great team together, and it’s been working really well,” Gavrilova said.
Australia will start their Hopman Cup title defence on Sunday when they open up against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and Lara Arruabarrena. Draw in Group B, they will also face teams from the Czech Republic and America.
