Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
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2019 Hopman Cup final Switzerland vs Germany RAC Arena, Perth, Western Australia Belinda Bencic vs Anglique Kerber |
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It needed a tiebreaker to decide the second set, but a straight sets win from Angelique Kerber in the Hopman Cup final will send Germany and Switzerland to a deciding doubles match.
Final score
Belinda Bencic 4 6
Angelique Kerber 6 7
The Hopman Cup goes on the line when Belinda Bencic and Angelique Kerber go head-to-head during the second rubber between Switzerland and Germany. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 8:30pm (AEDT).
Kerber, who is a three-time grand slam champion, was pivotal in booking Germany’s spot in the decider last night.
She beat Ashleigh Barty in a straight-set demolition job. While the Australian didn’t play a bad match, Barty was simply a level above and looks to be in the form which could bring her another Australian Open crown.
Her other victories this week came over Alize Cornet and Garbine Muguruza, so there has been some high-quality tennis going on. While she took three sets to get over the power of Muguruza, her defensive work at the back of the court has been outstanding, as you’d expect it to be from Kerber given her style of play.
While she has picked her spots to play from the net and hit approach shots, she has been quite happy grinding longer rallies at the back when need be.
Her style won’t suit Bencic either, who will want to out power Kerber, but will need to take all sorts of risks and get fancy up near the net with a fierce combination of drop shots and volleys to do so.
Bencic has had an up and down week, with losses to Maria Sakkari and Serena Williams in her last two matches, although, to be fair, she did take Williams to three sets, which was probably better than could have been expected.
A win over Katie Boulter will be what the youthful world No.54 needs to play like here, but whether she is up to that task is anyone’s guess. At just 21, she has shown plenty of potential and was at one point in the top ten, but consistency has gone away in the last 24 months, making things tough.
Prediction
Kerber was in fine form last night, and with all due respect to Bencic, there is a reason the difference in world ranking spots between the two exists, and has existed for the last couple of years once players around the world started to figure Bencic out.
Hard to see Bencic winning here, and as long as Federer wins the first rubber for Switzerland as expected, we should be heading to a live mixed doubles match to decide the Hopman Cup between these two nations once again.
Kerber in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match between Bencic and Keber from 8:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Right, that's going to wrap up our live coverage of the women's singles here at the Hopman Cup final then. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Right now, it's time to go to the decider as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic take on Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber in a mixed doubles match to decide the 2019 Hopman Cup. Join me there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
This has been a super night of tennis so far, and there is more to come with a live mixed doubles rubber. Kerber in ominous form ahead of the summer. She has gone four and none this week. Roarers, thoughts on that one?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, ANGELIQUE KERBER Fault. The second is out wide and returned on the forehand, but Kerber manages to open up the court with a short angled ball, before the backhand goes away. What a super match that was. Bencic almost got it into a deciding break and pull four breaks of serve back throughout the match against a quality player, but in the end, just couldn't get it done in the breaker. We are going to a live mixed doubles match to decide the Hopman Cup! Bencic 4 6 Kerber 6 7
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve from Bencic, but Kerber cracks the crosscourt backhand and has another match point on serve as Bencic sends one wide. Bencic 4 6 - 6 Kerber 6 6 - 7
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bencic stays alive! Great body serve and Kerber returns into the net. Bencic 4 6 - 6 Kerber 6 6 - 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
This is just ridiculously good tennis. Bencic was out of that, but kept one in from the baseline, got a net cord and then rushed forward after a super lob to put the ball away. Bencic 4 6 - 5 Kerber 6 6 - 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kerber uses the angles and has two match points. Bencic 4 6 - 4 Kerber 6 6 - 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
And Keber has the mini break back. Bencic sends a forehand long. Just got a bit stuck trying to hit that one. Bencic 4 6 - 4 Kerber 6 6 - 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kerber sends a backhand wide now on the run. Good hitting from Bencic there. Bencic 4 6 - 4 Kerber 6 6 - 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve from Kerber. Bencic races across the court, but Kerber then catches the outside edge of the line from the doubles alley with a super forehand. Bencic 4 6 - 3 Kerber 6 6 - 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kerber gives the mini break right back here, putting a ball wide from the baseline. Great work from Bencic to get inside the baseline there. Bencic 4 6 - 3 Kerber 6 6 - 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Now Kerber has the mini break. Bad miss from Bencic there answering a solid return. Ebbing and flowing this. Super match so far. Bencic 4 6 - 2 Kerber 6 6 - 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bencic with a wide serve and a good volley, but not good enough. Kerber gets there and puts the passing shot away to get the mini break away. Bencic 4 6 - 2 Kerber 6 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bencic guessed correctly on the serve and volley overhead, but couldn't clear Kerber at the net who puts the drive volley away. Bencic 4 6 - 2 Kerber 6 6 - 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kerber with a body serve. It's returned on a strong backhand, then Kerber gets on top, only for Bencic to lob to the baseline. Kerber tries the overhead, but it's weak and Bencic smacks the backhand up the line. Mini break now. Bencic 4 6 - 2 Kerber 6 6 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve and that's well returned by Bencic. Kerber then ran side to side and she puts a backhand wide finally on the run. Challenged, but here is the mini break. Or not. Replay point. It was in. Bencic 4 6 - 1 Kerber 6 6 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bencic with a body serve to start the breaker. Kerber returns well enough, but then has poor footwork and drags a backhand wide. Bencic 4 6 - 1 Kerber 6 6 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
BENCIC BREAKS BACK! Oh! She has done it again. Great hitting, great depth and Kerber misses. TIEBREAKER Bencic 4 6 - Kerber 6 6 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
What a return! Wide serve, forehand to the corner and Kerber hits one long. Two break back points again. Bencic 4 5 - 40 Kerber 6 6 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kerber. The second brings with it a longer rally, then Kerber misses a pretty regulation backhand rally ball. Bencic 4 5 - 30 Kerber 6 6 - 15