Roger Federer’s bid for a record third Hopman Cup crown will be decided by the mixed doubles after German Angelique Kerber beat Belinda Bencic in straight sets.
Federer gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead with a 6-4 6-2 win over world No.4 Alexander Zverev on Saturday.
But Kerber levelled the tie with a 6-4 7-6 (8-6) win over Bencic in the women’s singles rubber.
Kerber twice served for the match in the second set, but failed on both occasions before winning in the tiebreak on her third match point.
“It won’t be easy, but we’ll try our best,” Kerber said of taking on Federer and Bencic in the winner-takes-all mixed doubles.
“The better team will win at the end.”
Federer was simply irresistible in his singles match, countering the power of Zverev with classy stroke play and unpredictable deftness.
Zverev unleashed a series of powerful serves, some of which exceeded 220km/h.
But Federer snared the crucial break in the 10th game of the first set, before breaking the young German again early in the second set on the way to the 70-minute win.
Federer has beaten Frances Tiafoe, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Cameron Norrie, and Zverev in straight sets at the Hopman Cup, giving him an excellent preparation for his Australian Open title defence.
“I’m happy I’m feeling this good and playing as well as I am,” Federer said.
“It’s good to finish on a singles performance like this. I’m a bit surprised that the matches have gone as well as they have.”
Switzerland are aiming to win their fourth Hopman Cup title, while Germany are gunning for their third.
Federer has already won two and a third would make him the most successful player in the tournament’s history.
Saturday’s final has taken on extra significance given there’s a strong chance it will be the last ever Hopman Cup.
A new ATP World Team Cup tournament is set to be introduced in Australia next year, with the Perth event, which was first held 30 years ago, almost certain to be axed to make way for it.
Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth are expected to share hosting rights for the incoming 24-team World Team Cup.
But if the Hopman Cup is axed, it means Perth tennis fans will miss out on the chance to watch top-quality women’s tennis.