- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
|
2019 Hopman Cup Women's singles Pat Rafter Arena, Queensland Tennis Centre USA vs Switzerland |
|---|
|
||||
|
||||
|
Show Preview
Serena Williams will be back on court at the Hopman Cup at New Year’s Day as she attempts to begin the recovery effort for the USA. Standing in her way is defending champion Belinda Bencic. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 10pm (AEDT).
Williams looked a little rusty starting her season on Monday afternoon in the Hopman Cup tie against Greece.
Taking on Maria Sakkari, she needed a tiebreaker to get the job done in the first set, before going on with a much more convincing second set.
However, Bencic is going to be a much tougher test and she will need to lift her level of performance to avoid being knocked over tonight.
It was hardly a surprise to see some rust in Williams’ game given her last match in 2018 was at the US Open when she was stunned in the final by Japan’s Naomi Osaka.
Back up to 16th in the world after almost a year out of the game, she will look for one final push this year before calling it a career sometime in the near future.
Bencic, who alongside Roger Federer was apart of the winning team last year for Switzerland, also got her campaign and new season off to a fast start with a victory over Katie Boulter in straight sets as Switzerland crushed Great Britain.
So long as Federer does the expected earlier in the evening, she won’t be under all that much pressure in this match.
After finishing last year strongly, including making the final of an event in Las Vegas, she will have plenty of confidence, and one would expect, simply try to match Williams for power, which, to be fair, is not something many players have been able to do over the years.
Prediction
Serena Williams didn’t look at her absolute best in the opener on Monday afternoon, but she will be better for the run and should overcome Bencic in a pretty tight tussle.
Williams in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match at the Hopman Cup between the USA and Switzerland from around 10pm (AEDT) or at the completion of the men’s singles between Roger Federer and Frances Tiafoe and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: Around 10pm (AEDT)
Venue: RAC Arena, Perth
TV: Live, Nine Network
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Williams $1.35, Bencic $3.21
Overall record:
Last meeting:
Hide Preview