Roger Federer cruised through US rising star Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-1 in just 57 minutes in the first match of the eagerly-awaited Hopman Cup tie between the USA and Switzerland in Perth.
Roger Federer played the second singles match in this year’s Hopman Cup two days after beating Cameron Norrie from Great Britain 6-1 6-1. The Swiss Maestro continued his perfect record in the 2019 edition of the Australian tournament with another straight-set win over Frances Tiafoe.
Federer, who won the Hopman Cup title in 2018 alongside Belinda Bencic, produced another solid performance dropping just eleven points in his service games. He never faced a break point in the whole match and converted three of his five break points.
Tiafoe fended off a break point in the opening game. Both players held on their serve until 4-4, before Federer won his service game after two deuces in the ninth game with a backhand down the line winner. The 20-time Grand Slam champion sealed the first set with a break in the 10th game after Tiafoe made a huge backhand error.
Federer went up a set and a break in the second game of the second set after a backhand error from Tiafoe. Federer got the double break to race out to a 4-0 lead, when Tiafoe missed a backhand slice. Tiafoe held serve to get his first game on the scoreboard after leading 40-0 lead.
The Swiss legend hit three winners to close out the second set after 22 minutes, when he was serving for the match.
“The good thing is that I have played against him a little bit already. I have seen him playing a lot at the Laver Cup as well. He brings the power on the court. Today he did not feel his best. I believe, especially on the serve as the match got a lot closer. I played another good match. I am very happy. A great start for me. I will stay on the bike and keep the engine on. I had a really late night on New Year’s Eve. No I am joking”,said Federer in the post match interview.
