New Year’s Day Clash Between All-Time Greats On Tennis Channel

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during the Men’s singles match between Switzerland and Great Britain on day 2 of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, 30 December 2018. EPA-EFE/TONY MCDONOUGH

 

 

Tennis from Perth on TV • Schedule below

 

NEW YEAR’S DAY CLASH BETWEEN ALL-TIME GREATS SERENA WILLIAMS, ROGER FEDERER ON TENNIS CHANNEL

 

Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus will start the New Year with a clash between two of the greatest tennis players of all time: Serena Williams and Roger Federer. On Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 4:30 a.m. ET, former World No. 1s and Open Era major-singles titles record holders Williams and Federer will face each other in the 2019 Hopman Cup competition. Williams will represent the United States in the sport’s most prestigious mixed-doubles event against Switzerland’s Federer in one of the most anticipated contests in the history of the competition.

 

Williams and Federer are among the best to ever play the game – if not the best. Last year Williams broke the record for most major singles titles won during the Open Era, when she captured her 23rd Grand Slam championship at the Australian Open. She is only one match behind Margaret Court on the all-time major singles list (both amateur and Open Era). In January, Federer won his sixth Australian Open title and 20th Grand Slam title to become only the fourth player after Margaret Court, Williams and Steffi Graf to win 20 or more singles titles. Williams also holds four Olympic gold medals, including one in singles and three in doubles with her sister Venus. Federer holds an Olympic gold medal in doubles and a silver medal in singles.

 

The combination of Tennis Channel and the network’s digital subscription service, Tennis Channel Plus, will carry all 2019 Hopman Cup matches live in their entirety. Coverage gets underway Friday, Dec. 28, at 9 p.m. ET.  Hopman Cup matches feature teams of one man and one woman and take place at the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia, December 29-January 5. Among the stars set to play this year are Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.

 

Rising star Frances Tiafoe will partner with Williams for his Hopman Cup debut this weekend. In February, Tiafoe become the youngest American champion on the ATP tour since Andy Roddick in 2002 when he won his first title at the Delray Beach Open. Tiafoe had an impressive run at May’s Estoril Open in Portugal before falling to Joao Sousa in the final.

 

Switzerland’s highest-ranked woman, Belinda Bencic, will represent her country alongside Federer. Bencic received her best Grand Slam result at the 2014 US Open, when she beat top-10 players Angelique Kerber and Jelena Jankovic on her way to the quarterfinals. Bencic advanced to the fourth round at this year’s Wimbledon.

 

The United States leads all nations in Hopman Cup titles, winning its sixth crown in 2011. Williams, a Hopman Cup finalist in 2015 with John Isner, has contributed to American Hopman Cup championships in 2003 and 2008.

 

In January, Federer and Bencic defeated Germany’s Zverev and Kerber 2-1 to win Switzerland’s third Hopman Cup title.

 

Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus Hopman Cup coverage from Perth, Australia; all times East coast of America. (think New York)

Friday, Dec. 28:
9 p.m. – Britain v. Greece *

Saturday, Dec. 29:
4:30 a.m. – Australia v. France *
9 p.m. – Germany v. Spain

Sunday, Dec. 30:
4:30 a.m. – Britain v. Switzerland
9 p.m. – USA v. Greece

Tuesday, Jan. 1:
4:30 a.m. – USA v. Switzerland
9 p.m. – France v. Germany

Wednesday, Jan. 2:
4:30 a.m. – Australia v. Spain
9 p.m. – Britain v. USA

Thursday, Jan. 3:
4:30 a.m. – Greece v. Switzerland
9 p.m. – Spain v. France

Friday, Jan. 4:
4:30 a.m. – Australia v. Germany

Saturday, Jan. 5:
3 a.m. – Hopman Cup Championship

*Tennis Channel Only