<p>World number three Roger Federer outplayed Briton Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-1 to secure a winning start for defending champions Switzerland at the Hopman Cup on Sunday.</p>.<p>Gearing up for his Australian Open title defence, Federer overcame three break points in his opening service game before rediscovering his rhythm to race out to a 5-0 lead.</p>.<p>With 18 winners and four aces, Federer wrapped up the opening set in 31 minutes.</p>.<p>Norrie, who had defeated Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Saturday, struggled to match Federer’s crisp stroke-making as the Swiss gave his team a 1-0 lead.</p>.<p>Federer’s playing partner Belinda Bencic beat Katie Boulter 6-2, 7-6(0) in the women’s contest to clinch Switzerland’s victory in the round-robin stage.</p>.<p>The 37-year-old Federer has won the last two Australian Open titles after taking part in the mixed-teams tournament in Perth.</p>.<p>“This was a great start but obviously a long way to go here and in Melbourne,” Federer said.</p>.<p>“It’s nice that I’m feeling as good as I am and played a wonderful match against Cameron. The footwork, the offensive play, serve, return, it was all there, so I think it was a great match for me.”</p>.<p>The 37-year-old Federer was unbeaten in singles at the previous Hopman Cup earlier this year.</p>.<p>Last year’s runners-up Germany made a winning return when Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber recorded hard-fought victories in their singles matches. In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the Germans made it a clean sweep with a straight sets 4-2, 4-3 (5/3) win.</p>.<p>Coming off a title win at the season-ending ATP Finals in London, Zverev countered his 45 unforced errors with 39 winners and eight aces to beat Spanish veteran David Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(0).</p>.<p>After the match, Zverev paid tribute to former world number three Ferrer, who will retire from the sport next year.</p>.<p>“All the credit is (to) David, coming back from a set down and break down,” Zverev said.</p>.<p>“He is the greatest fighter, maybe, that we have ever seen in tennis. What he has done in tennis over the past 15 or 20 years has been absolutely amazing.”</p>.<p>Kerber defeated Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to snap a five-match losing streak against the two-time Grand Slam winner.</p>.<p> Kerber conceded Muguruza had proven a historically difficult opponent and she was pleased to begin her Australian Open preparation with a win.</p>.<p>“The first match you never know how you will feel on court,” she said.</p>.<p>“I was trying to find the rhythm and I am very happy about how I played.</p>.<p>“I was trying not to think about the head to head.”</p>
<p>World number three Roger Federer outplayed Briton Cameron Norrie 6-1, 6-1 to secure a winning start for defending champions Switzerland at the Hopman Cup on Sunday.</p>.<p>Gearing up for his Australian Open title defence, Federer overcame three break points in his opening service game before rediscovering his rhythm to race out to a 5-0 lead.</p>.<p>With 18 winners and four aces, Federer wrapped up the opening set in 31 minutes.</p>.<p>Norrie, who had defeated Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Saturday, struggled to match Federer’s crisp stroke-making as the Swiss gave his team a 1-0 lead.</p>.<p>Federer’s playing partner Belinda Bencic beat Katie Boulter 6-2, 7-6(0) in the women’s contest to clinch Switzerland’s victory in the round-robin stage.</p>.<p>The 37-year-old Federer has won the last two Australian Open titles after taking part in the mixed-teams tournament in Perth.</p>.<p>“This was a great start but obviously a long way to go here and in Melbourne,” Federer said.</p>.<p>“It’s nice that I’m feeling as good as I am and played a wonderful match against Cameron. The footwork, the offensive play, serve, return, it was all there, so I think it was a great match for me.”</p>.<p>The 37-year-old Federer was unbeaten in singles at the previous Hopman Cup earlier this year.</p>.<p>Last year’s runners-up Germany made a winning return when Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber recorded hard-fought victories in their singles matches. In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the Germans made it a clean sweep with a straight sets 4-2, 4-3 (5/3) win.</p>.<p>Coming off a title win at the season-ending ATP Finals in London, Zverev countered his 45 unforced errors with 39 winners and eight aces to beat Spanish veteran David Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(0).</p>.<p>After the match, Zverev paid tribute to former world number three Ferrer, who will retire from the sport next year.</p>.<p>“All the credit is (to) David, coming back from a set down and break down,” Zverev said.</p>.<p>“He is the greatest fighter, maybe, that we have ever seen in tennis. What he has done in tennis over the past 15 or 20 years has been absolutely amazing.”</p>.<p>Kerber defeated Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to snap a five-match losing streak against the two-time Grand Slam winner.</p>.<p> Kerber conceded Muguruza had proven a historically difficult opponent and she was pleased to begin her Australian Open preparation with a win.</p>.<p>“The first match you never know how you will feel on court,” she said.</p>.<p>“I was trying to find the rhythm and I am very happy about how I played.</p>.<p>“I was trying not to think about the head to head.”</p>