Roger Federer has defeated Serena Williams in a mixed doubles match that was the first time they ever faced off.
The two champions competed in a hotly-anticipated decider at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Tuesday night alongside partners of the opposite sex.
Federer teamed up with Swiss compatriot Belinda Bencic, while Williams shared her side of the court with fellow American Frances Tiafoe.
The pair, both aged 37, have won an astonishing 43 glad slams between them over their storied careers - 20 for Federer and 23 for Williams.
Roger Federer has defeated Serena Williams in a mixed doubles match that was the first time they ever faced off.
The two champions competed in a hotly-anticipated decider at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Tuesday night alongside partners of the opposite sex
The Swiss duo took out the first set - played only to four games - 4-2 with the U.S. pair needing to win the second to keep the match alive.
Federer copped a ball to the face fired across the court from Tiafoe in the second set, sending him awkwardly to one knee.
The blow can after Federer belted the American in the torso in an earlier rally.
Later with the set at 2-2, Williams fell to her knees and screamed in dismay as she missed an easy volley next to the net to drop the point.
The set went to a tense tiebreaker at 3-3, which was won by the Swiss 4-3, giving them the match on a return by Tiafoe that hit the net.
The two champions took a selfie after post-match interviews while holding their racquets
Williams soon posted the selfie on her Instagram to celebrate their first on-court meeting
Funny moments didn't stop in the post-game interviews when Bencic recalled how Federer motivated her 'in the locker room' after her singles loss.
'I hope you are not sharing locker rooms,' the interviewer joked, to rapturous laughter from the sellout crowd.
'No, not in the locker room, in the gym, in front of the locker room... This cannot get any worse,' an embarrassed Bencic clarified.
Federer spoke of how much he enjoyed himself during the match and that the two were finally able to play against each other.
'It was great fun, I really enjoyed playing. Serena, what a pleasure, what an honour, thank you for making this match possible,' he said.
Federer copped a ball to the face fired across the court from Tiafoe in the second set
The blow sent him awkwardly to one knee but he was all smiles afterwards, sharing a laugh with Tiafoe
The blow can after Federer belted the American in the torso in an earlier rally, sending him to the ground
Williams agreed: 'It was a great experience. I'm kind of sad it's over. I was just warming up.
'It was so fun... it's something that growing up, and we grew up together really just watching and having an opportunity, after all these years we have actually never done this.
'So this was super cool we get to do it at such a pinnacle point in both our careers. For me it was super cool, like literally I wanted to take pictures.
'I want to bring my baby out, I'm way too excited. But it was really fun.'
Federer said he found the experience of playing against Williams 'nerve-wracking' because of the enormity of the moment.
'All of a sudden you are serving especially the last serve at 3 all I'm like "I've got to win this point, it's Serena Williams" I was telling myself,' he said.
'I was telling myself "This is maybe what I've always wanted". A big time moment like this.'
The pair, both aged 37, have won an astonishing 43 glad slams between them over their storied careers - 20 for Federer and 23 for Williams
Federer said he found the experience of playing against Williams 'nerve-wracking' because of the enormity of the moment
The unprecedented match between two of the greatest ever male and female players is owned to the tournament's unique structure
Federer's team eventually won 4-2, 4-3 (4-3) in straight sets to win the tie
Williams finished the interview by calling Federer the greatest men's player of all time and complementing his 'underrated serve'.
After the interview the pair took a selfie while holding their tennis raquets.
The unprecedented match between two of the greatest ever male and female players is owned to the tournament's unique structure.
The Hopman cup pits eight counties against each other in teams of two, one male one female, playing each other in two singles matches and a doubles decider.
'I admire everything she has done both on and off the court,' Federer said before the match.
'I have always thought how is it to return that serve and go head-to-head with her
'It's very exciting for us. I hope tennis fans tune in and watch it because it's going to be one time and probably never again in this type of competition.
Williams and Federer pose with a ball boy before the match at the Hopman Cup in Perth
Federer teamed up with Swiss compatriot Belinda Bencic (far right), while Williams shared her side of the court with fellow American Frances Tiafoe (far left). They pose here with a ball boy
Tickets were sold out soon after being released as thousands clamoured to see what could be the only time the two champions share a court
Despite their massive success on the court, Federer and Williams barely know each other as they move in different competitive circles.
'I don't know her that well. I only know her from some champions' dinners at Wimbledon,' Federer said.
'We have busy lives and a big entourage, so it's rare to really deep dive. We can relate to each other more so now, being parents.'
Williams was similarly excited to take on Federer in a memorable clash.
'I've been looking forward to it since I saw it. I was like, 'Oh, my God, this is so cool,' she said.
'So it's just something that, as a player, is something that you would dream of, to play Roger Federer.'
Tickets were sold out soon after being released as thousands clamoured to see what could be the only time the two champions share a court.
The match wouldn't have even happened if Federer hadn't given Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the tie with a 6-4 6-1 win over Tiafoe.
The pair paid tribute to each other with mutual admiration as they were interviewed on court after the match
Williams and Federer embrace after the match before gushing about each others' skills in post-match interviews
Despite their massive success on the court, Federer and Williams barely know each other as they move in different competitive circles
Williams then overcame a case of the first-set wobbles to post a 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over Bencic to make its 1-1 and force the decider.
The mixed doubles will therefore decide the winner of the tie and give the winner points in the four-team round-robin group phase.
Williams raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set of her singles match, but Bencic won six of the next seven games to put the US on the brink of elimination from the title race.
The US had already lost their opening tie to Greece, and were 1-0 down against Switzerland after Federer's 57-minute demolition job on Tiafoe.
But Williams lifted in the big moments, breaking Bencic in the final game of the second set to level the scores, before powering to victory in the third.
'It's definitely a relief. She played really well,' Williams said. I knew I could play better, so that was always something that was in my mind.'
Federer was at his clinical best in his singles match. From 4-4 in the first set, Federer won the next seven games to set up the easy win.
Williams shares her side of the court with fellow American Frances Tiafoe
Federer and Bencic of Switzerland celebrate their win during the mixed doubles match between the USA and Switzerland on day 4 of the Hopman Cup
Federer signs autographs for some of the thousands of fans after the match
The second set took just 22 minutes as Tiafoe's game imploded, with the world No.39 also struggling to maintain a high intensity.
Federer felt he handled Tiafoe's power game well.
And the 20-time grand slam winner, who will attempt to win a third straight Australian Open title later this month, was satisfied with where his form and fitness is at.
'I think it's just now about maintaining, making sure I stay healthy, stay fit and inspired out there, come up with good solutions and take the right decisions at the right time,' Federer said.
'That is the hard part in tennis - to keep that up.
'It's important for my side that I do my things correctly and so far that's happened, but it's only been two matches into the season so we'll see how it goes.'
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Main photo article Roger Federer has defeated Serena Williams in a mixed doubles match that was the first time they ever faced off.
The two champions competed in a hotly-anticipated decider at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Tuesday night alongside partners of the opposite sex.
Federer teamed up with Swiss compa...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
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