Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev have lost in the past year, the final of the Hopman Cup. How twelve months ago the German Team Switzerland lost with Superstar Roger Federer, and Belinda Bencic, with 1:2. After the defeat of ATP Champion Zverev and the victory of Wimbledon winner Kerber, the dream of victory in the exciting 0:4, 4:1, 3:4 (4:5) ended in Mixed.
“congratulations to you, again,” said a clearly disappointed Zverev – he had with his humorous remarks, but the laughter of the 14,000 spectators in Perth on his side. “We, as players,” the ATP Champion whimsically, “have added, actually, enough of you, but what can we do? Especially You, Roger, You’re 30-something …? Let’s also take a look what win, the Hopman Cup.“
The last German victory in the unofficial Mixed championship, which will be replaced by the newly created ATP-Cup, had brought in 1995, Anke Huber and Boris Becker, in 1993, Steffi Graf and Michael Stich had been for the first time for Germany. Switzerland won the since 1989, held Hopman Cup for the fourth Time – not least thanks to a superior Federer.
The final was similar to the one meet a year earlier: Zverev lost to Federer, but this time not in three sets, but clearly in 4:6, 2:6. Kerber managed with a 6:4, 7:6 (8:6) how twelve months ago the balance in the duel with Bencic, who is currently number 18 in the world rankings. Again, the German Team then lost in the Mixed doubles, this time, however, narrowly in three sets.
“We will remember for the Rest of our lives this week, especially at this last ball change,” said Zverev, and known how much he and Kerber were eager to win the title this time. “We were disappointed last year and sworn in this year, we wanted to win. We hope that we will return often and one day we will hopefully keep this trophy in our hands.“
the especially the performance from Federer against Zverev had previously been very impressive, did not want to ride the Maestro himself. “It was a good Match for me, no doubt about it,” he said, and stressed: “I have well-pitched. If you can raise a beautiful Serve-and-Volley game, how I have succeeded, it will have every opponent is difficult.“ Federer struck nine aces and 24 “Winner”.
Also, Zverev struck nine aces, but also four double faults and 23 “unforced errors ran him”, towards the end of the 70-minute Match, he was frustrated. In the middle of November Zverev had defeated in the semifinals of the ATP finals in London, Federer in two sets (7:6, 7:5), he then won the final against Novak Djokovic (Serbia/6:4, 6:3).
Kerber was against Bencic quickly with a 3:0 lead, was also the beginning of the second set after a Break at 1:0 until the tenth game in the front, but then lost her service game to win the Match. Again, a Break managed to her afterwards. Again Bencic compensated for. In the hard-fought tie-break Kerber then used their third match ball.
