PERTH, Australia (AFP) Roger Federer will kick off his 2019 season at the Hopman Cup in Perth, a tournament he won last year before clinching his 20th Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
The Swiss legend will again partner Belinda Bencic at the mixed-teams event in Perth.
“Perth Arena is a wonderful place to start the new year and it’s obviously the perfect preparation for the Australian Open and it worked so well the last couple of years, I can’t wait to come back,” Federer said Tuesday.
Also returning next year are the German pairing of Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber, the beaten finalists in 2018.
“I always like coming back to Perth for the Hopman Cup. It’s my fourth year in a row playing and I always enjoy it,” said Zverev, who has solidified his position in the world’s top five this year.
The tournament runs from December 29 to January 5.
© Agence France-Presse
