Serena Williams to face Roger Federer in mixed doubles - Hopman Cup

Serena Williams will face Roger Federer in her first event of the 2019 season when the Switzerland play USA in the mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup.



The 37-year old Serena Williams has not played since her controversial US Open final defeat by Naomi Osaka in September.

20-time Grand Slam winner Federer and Belinda Bencic will seek to defend their title against the 23-time Grand Slam champion and Frances Tiafoe.

Great Britain will be represented by Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter in Perth.

Williams, who pulled out of this month's China Open said: "The Aussie fans are always so warm and supportive and the Hopman Cup has always given me a great start to the season, especially ahead of the Australian Open," said

Since winning the 2017 Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant, Williams will participate in Australia for the first time having missed last year's tournament as she was not fully fit to return following the birth of her daughter, Olympia.

The Hopman Cup takes place from 29 December to 5 January, with the 2019 Australian Open taking place from 14-27 January.

The mixed team event involves eight nations split into two groups, with teams facing each other in sessions that consist of a men's and women's singles match and a mixed doubles match.

Each team plays the other three in their group, while the top teams in each group then file out in the final.

On New Year's Day in Group B, the USA are due to play Switzerland which also features Great Britain and Greece.

Group A consists of France, Spain, Germany and hosts Australia.

The 37-year-old Federer and Bencic, 21, won Switzerland's first Hopman Cup since 2001 earlier this year.

Teams

Group A

France - Lucas Pouille and Alize Cornet

Spain - David Ferrer and Garbine Muguruza

Germany - Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber

Australia - Matt Ebden and Ashleigh Barty

Group B

Great Britain - Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter

Greece - Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari

Switzerland - Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic

USA - Frances Tiafoe and Serena Williams