Patrick Mouratoglou praises Roger Federer after opening Hopman Cup match
Competing in his fifth Hopman Cup, Roger Federer has made the best possible start in Perth, defeating Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-1 in 57 minutes for his most impressive win at this tournament where he made a debut back in 2001. After a slower start in the opening game, Roger seized control and he never looked back, ousting the young Briton in less than an hour and giving the packed crowd something to cheer about. The famous coach Patrick Mouratoglou has been impressed once again with the way Roger moved around the court and how he takes time away from his rivals to keep the points on his tally.
Norrie had the opportunity to experience that as well, unable to impose his shots or to move Roger from the comfort zone, losing the edge on both the serve and return to suffer a tough loss. Making the Hopman Cup debut and facing the great rival for the first time, Cameron created three break points in the opening game after a forehand error from Roger who faced a stern challenge after less than two minutes. Staying calm and focused, Federer repelled them and he brought the game home with two service winners to avoid an early setback. A left-hander wasted game points in the following game and Roger secured a break with a beautiful backhand cross court winner, moving 3-0 up after four service winners in game three.
Just like the last time he served, Cameron squandered game points to get broken again after a drive volley winner from Roger who looked better and better on the court. The Swiss blasted four more unreturned serves in game five and he earned a set point on the return in the following game, only to send the backhand into the net and miss a chance to serve a bagel. Norrie saved another set point with a volley winner to get his name on the scoreboard and he could have prolonged the set after two break points up for grabs on the return in the next game. Roger saved them all with winners and the set was in his hands after a volley winner, racing towards 6-1 after just 30 minutes.
Nothing changed in set number two and Federer secured an early break in the first game, cementing the lead with an ace and making another easy hold in game four for a 3-1. Cameron sprayed a forehand error in game five to lose serve again and it was all over when Roger broke him at 5-1 with a deep return, thrilled with the way he opened the new season and Hopman Cup campaign after title he won a year ago with Belinda Bencic.
"Every time I watch Roger play, I am amazed by his ability to create pace by moving up to the ball incredibly fast. He sees earlier and has the will to take time away from his opponents at each opportunity he has."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2AoxEsl
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