Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion and one of the world\u2019s greatest tennis players, Roger Federer, is coming to Perth for the Hopman Cup.<\/p>\n
The world No.3 returns to Western Australia for the first time in 15 years.<\/p>\n
Federer will partner world No.16 Belinda Bencic to represent Switzerland at the ITF\u2019s official mixed team competition at Perth Arena from 1 to 7 January 2017.<\/p>\n
The right-hander has fond memories of the event. He teamed with Martina Hingis in 2001 at the age of 19 to win the Hopman Cup, one of his first professional titles, and also played the event in 2002 with his then girlfriend Miroslava Vavrinec, now better known as Mirka Federer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it will be a perfect tournament for me to start the season,\u201d said Federer, winner of 88 career singles titles, one Olympic gold medal and a Davis Cup crown so far in his glittering career.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s looking forward to visiting Perth after a 15-year absence, and to playing in the new Perth Arena. \u201cI like to play in new places\u2026 It\u2019s always really exciting, so I can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought on TV it looked great, the atmosphere seemed really nice, the stadium looked fantastic so I\u2019m looking forward to playing in that environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bencic will team up with Federer for the first time in her career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very much looking forward to playing with Roger in the mixed doubles and representing my country at the Hopman Cup,\u201d Bencic said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve not been to Perth before but I\u2019ve heard great things and can\u2019t wait to check out the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rising star reached a career high ranking of seven in February and made the US Open quarterfinals at the age of 17 in 2014.<\/p>\n
Hopman Cup Tournament Director Paul Kilderry is delighted to welcome Federer and Bencic to Perth and knows tennis fans will be thrilled to watch Team Switzerland compete.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re extremely excited that Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic have decided to start the new year in Perth,\u201d Kilderry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere at the 2016 event was electric and no doubt the excitement and buzz will be even more so when Switzerland takes to the court next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity to see Federer, one of the greatest players of all time, will be like no other and I look forward to seeing all his fans in Western Australia visit Perth Arena for a terrific week.\u201d<\/p>\n
All session packages and final tickets are now available to purchase via Ticketek<\/a>.<\/p>\n