When you have Roger Federer and Serena Williams playing against each other on the first day of the year, it’s both a good thing and a bad thing.
Two of the greatest to ever play the game.
Thank you, @serenawilliams & @rogerfederer 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JCXZdaEyT9— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 2, 2019
Good, because two of the greatest athletes to play the game of tennis were facing each other for the first time in their careers.
And bad because, things are only going downhill from this point in 2019.
You know, what possibly can top this?
Greatest selfie of all time.@serenawilliams @rogerfederer #HopmanCup pic.twitter.com/514rO1DZoh
— Hopman Cup (@hopmancup) January 1, 2019
Since it was a competition, there was a result.
The mixed doubles clash between Switzerland and United States at the Hopman Cup was won by Roger Federer and his partner Belinda Bencic.
Smiles all around as the Swiss secure victory!@rogerfederer and @BelindaBencic defeat Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe 4-2 4-3(3).@Channel9 @9Gem | #HopmanCup pic.twitter.com/iG015tS827
— Hopman Cup (@hopmancup) January 1, 2019
But this match was important for other reasons.
Standing on the two sides of the net were the greatest players to have held the tennis racquet and every shot, every serve was history in making.
Serena Williams on playing against Roger Federer:”This was super cool that we got to do it at such a pinnacle point in both our careers…the guy is great, he’s the greatest of all time to be honest, both on the court and off the court.” pic.twitter.com/s33MtnYjG2
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 2, 2019
After the match, Serena Williams said:
I was so excited, and literally it was the match of my career. Just playing someone so great, and someone you admire so much, and a match that actually means something – it’s not often that happens.
As for Federer:
I was nervous returning (her serve) because you just don’t know. People talk about her serve so much and I see why – it is such a wonderful serve because you just can’t read it, you don’t see until the very end. It was great great fun. She is a great champion and you see how focused and determined she is and I love that about her.
Federer: I was nervous returning because people talk about her serve so much and I see why. Her serve is so great you can’t read it. Serena: I can’t read yours either It’s just a nice Tennis love-fest for these two.pic.twitter.com/ISDN1DEaQZ #HopmanCup
— Omawumi O (@ormainy) January 1, 2019
This is going to be a great month for tennis followers with the Australian Open coming up and a super special for Federer fans as he is just one title away from a century of major singles titles.
It will take us some time to get over last night’s clash, though.