Hopman Cup: Serena Williams to Face Roger Federer in Battle of the Greats

Serena Williams during the 2017 Australian Open
Serena Williams during the 2017 Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne. Photo by Ella Ling/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (8136743bf)

20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer and 23-time Champion Serena Williams will face each other at the Australia Hopman Cup on Tuesday in one of the most anticipated matches this year.

Federer will head into the mixed doubles match having already won his previous match against Britain’s Cameron Norrie effortlessly (6-1, 6-1). By contrast, the American had to overcome an ankle problem to beat her Greece opponent Maria Sakkari 7-6, 6-2.

Both tennis champions are excited for the matchup, with Williams already preparing to take a selfie once he meets Federer. The Swiss, on the other hand, was full of praise for the American

“It’s very exciting for both of us,” – Federer said. “I admire everything she’s done on and off the court.”

Federer then talked about parenthood and the experience they both share.

“We can relate to one another now even more so for being parents. I’ve played with some of the greatest double players in the world in Martina Navratilova and Martina Hingis, and I’ve also played against some of the best in Venus and other great ones in the past. This time it’s against Serena, who is one of the biggest champions ever in our sport—men and women combined.”

In their individual singles, Federer will face America’s Frances Tiafoe while Williams will face Swiss Belinda Bencic.

Harley loves music and tries to go to a music festival every summer. When he's not listening to music, he writes about movies, food and wine, art, and sport.