World No.4 Alexander Zverev will be aiming to make up for last year’s flop when he takes on Roger Federer in Saturday’s Hopman Cup final at RAC Arena.
Germany and Switzerland will lock horns in the final of the mixed-teams event for a second straight year.
All four players from last year are back, with Zverev’s clash with Federer looming as the crucial fixture.
In last year’s final, Zverev won the first set before imploding on the way to a 6-7 6-0 6-2 loss.
It continued a bad tournament for Zverev, who won just one of his four singles matches.
Kerber beat Bencic in the women’s singles rubber to keep the tie alive, before Switzerland came up trumps in the mixed doubles to win the title.
Kerber will start as hot favourite against Bencic yet again.
It means if Zverev can conjure a win against Federer, Germany will be in the box seat to secure the title.
Zverev is well aware he needs to make up for last year.
“Angie shouldn’t do much different because she won her singles last year. So I take the blame all on me,” Zverev said.
“We only got to the finals last year because of Angie. I actually didn’t do much.
“Hopefully I can do it a little different. Hopefully I can give Roger a better match than I did last year.
“I hope it’s going to be just as exciting as last year, but just going the other way.”
Federer has been flawless at this year’s Hopman Cup, beating Frances Tiafoe, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Cameron Norrie in straight sets.
But Kerber looms as the ace in Germany’s deck, having won all seven of her singles matches over her two Hopman Cup campaigns.
Switzerland will be aiming to win their fourth Hopman Cup title, while Germany are gunning for their third.
Saturday’s final will take on extra significance given there’s a strong chance it will be the last ever Hopman Cup.
A new ATP teams tournament is set to be introduced in Australia next year, with the Hopman Cup 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.
