Hometown favourites Australia will do battle with big guns Serbia this evening in one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2013 Hopman Cup. We’ll have live scores and a blog from Perth at 8.30pm AEDT.
In the first match of the night, Australian young gun Bernard Tomic will put his ultimate game to the test when he takes on world number one and five-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic.
Having both come off convincing wins in their previous matches – Tomic defeating Germany’s Tommy Haas and Djokovic beating Italy’s Andreas Seppi – they will no doubt be looking to continue their dominance when they take to centre court.
Djokovic currently leads their head-to-head 3-0, with their most recent meeting being at the Rogers Cup in Toronto back in August where the Serb won in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
It’ll be a mighty task for the 20-year-old Queenslander to overcome Djokovic but he has taken a set off Djokovic in the past during their 2011 Wimbledon quarterfinal, and has also beaten a number of top-10 players, including Robin Soderling and Tomas Berdych which will give him some much-needed confidence.
That combined with his newfound resurgence of form and fighting attitude, he will definitely test Djokovic and make it as difficult as possible for him to win.
We are no doubt in for a treat with this match and will undoubtedly see some blistering rallies and high quality displays of tennis.
Meanwhile on the women’s side, former world number one and 2008 French Open champion will take on 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty. It’ll be the first time these two have ever met so we’re definitely in for an interesting contest.
In their previous matches earlier in the week, Ivanovic crushed 2010 Roland Garros winner Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-0 6-4.
Barty on the other hand, competing in her first Hopman Cup, won her match by default against Germany’s Andrea Petkovic after she was forced to retire at 6-4 with a knee injury.
Despite losing the first set against Petkovic, Barty was showing some promising signs against the former world number nine with some aggressive backcourt play and deep groundstrokes.
However if she is to stand any chance against Ivanovic she will definitely have to lift her game even further.
It will no doubt be a cracking encounter between the two sides with the winner not only remaining undefeated but will also put them as firm favourites for the final.
So please join us with all the live action, and get involved by leaving your own thoughts and comments from 8.30pm AEDT.
Karen
Guest
Lets put this in perpective Tomic beats Djokivic in Hopman Cup they are hitting partners but the real bonus for Australia is Ash Barty who will be top 20 and even higher.She has the perfect temperment and game and is coached by an all time great Evonne Goolagong get on her bandwagon Australia.
ayoung
Roar Guru
Congrats again to Tomic. Although only a exhibition match and still a long way to go for him - it's great to see him receiving some positive press for a change! However on that note, that is unfortunately it from me tonight. With this time difference and other commitments I have to leave you. However be sure to tune in to the Hopman Cup website for more live coverage on the next match on Perth Arena between former world number one Ana Ivanovic and Aussie teenager Ashleigh Barty. Thanks again for your company. I'll be back tomorrow to cover Tomic's next opponent in Andreas Seppi of Italy. See you all then!
ayoung
Roar Guru
On his win and preparation for the game Tomic said: "I was really nervous but I knew a trained a lot the last few months and worked hard on my technique and my serve and that is why I think I won today."
ayoung
Roar Guru
It wasn't as though Djokovic played badly, he was simply outplayed but the better guy on the night. If Tomic can play like he just did we're in for a real treat when the Australian Open begins!
ayoung
Roar Guru
Tomic produced an impressive performance tonight. In a game lasting 1hr and 24mins Tomic had 13 break point chances, 8 aces and 25 winners. In comparison Djokovic only had one break point opportunity, produced only 4 aces and 12 winners.
ayoung
Roar Guru
In a perfectly fitting way, Tomic brings up his match point with ace number 8 before forcing Djokovic to the net and producing a cross court forehand winner to take the match! Awesome effort by the 20-year-old!
ayoung
Roar Guru
Djokovic 4-6, 4-6 Tomic* He's done it! Tomic has defeated the world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4!! In pure jubilation by the crowd, the Aussie has done the unbelievable!
ayoung
Roar Guru
Djokovic 4-6, 4-5 Tomic* A cross court forehand which can only be described as "too good" sends Tomic up 0-15. Djokovic is in all sorts producing errors on both sides and sending two into the net to give the Aussie three break points. Unable to convert after sending two backhands down the line just wide and Djokovic producing an unreturnable serve, the game moved to deuce. Yet Djokovic came up with some incredible skills reaching out to do the splits on one point just to get a shot back. But after three deuces and a mini spectator interruption Tomic forces Djokovic long to break once again. Tomic is now serving for the match!
ayoung
Roar Guru
A bit of comedic fun in the arena as a spectator shouts out something to which Djokovic liked the sound of and offered him his racquet to play. Suffice to say, the spectator didn't oblige.
ayoung
Roar Guru
*Djokovic 4-6, 4-4 Tomic With the second new ball, Tomic rips his serve once again to a helpless Djokovic who simply cannot conjure up a return. The Aussie takes the game to love.
ayoung
Roar Guru
Bernard is showing a lot of aggression tonight and is refusing to give up any cheap points. You can tell he wants this and knows he can do it too! This is certainly a different Tomic that has embraced us on court tonight than the one we have heard so infamously about these past few months!
ayoung
Roar Guru
Djokovic 4-6, 4-3 Tomic* In what was arguably the point of the match so far, an epic rally featuring 15+ strokes and changes in both direction and shots sees Tomic produce a brilliant slice background winner down the line to go 30-30. Djokovic however had to dig deep but manages to hold with a first serve in which Tomic sends his return wide.
ayoung
Roar Guru
*Djokovic 4-6, 3-3 Tomic That game was literally over in a blink of an eye! Four ripping serves handed Tomic the game to level at 3-3.
ayoung
Roar Guru
Djokovic 4-6, 3-2 Tomic* Djokovic doesn't seem to be moving as well tonight but he isn't the world number one for nothing and manages to produce some wide groundstrokes to take the winner and the game. Tomic still not going away however, with momentum clearly on the Aussie's side!
ayoung
Roar Guru
*Djokovic 4-6, 2-2 Tomic Tomic begins the game with a perfect 195km/hr ace down the line. His serve is certainly on fire tonight! at 30-0 hawkeye once again comes into play as the Aussie successfully overturns an 'out' decision. He then follows this up with yet another unreturnable serve.
ayoung
Roar Guru
Djokovic 4-6, 2-1 Tomic* Djokovic is struggling to find his range tonight, unable to put those easy shots away that he would normally make 9/10 times! At 30-30 the Serb uses the pace of shot to force Tomic to both sides of the court and into an error before the Aussie pushes an easy backhand long to hand Djokovic the game. On serve in the second.
ayoung
Roar Guru
*Djokovic 4-6, 1-1 Tomic Tomic has certainly got this 14,000 strong crowd going! What an excellent performance he's putting on tonight! Tomic continues his strong service game to level up at 1-1.
ayoung
Roar Guru
Djokovic 4-6, 1-0 Tomic* Both players trying to mix it up a little with their shot selection, with Djokovic forced to the net and Tomic producing some brilliant lobs. He puts Djokovic's rather lame attempt at a smash away to send the game to deuce but Djokovic storms back to produce an ace to take the opening game of the second set.
ayoung
Roar Guru
It's a rather passive Djokovic who has come out tonight which has given huge confidence to the young Aussie. But can he keep it up?
ayoung
Roar Guru
*Djokovic 4-6 Tomic Tomic has certainly had his weetbix tonight as he stuns the world number one with yet another unreturnable serve and more classy hard-hitting groundstrokes to take the first set 6-4!