Serena Williams and John Isner will team up at Hopman Cup 2011
The Hopman Cup tennis tournament was named in the honour of former Australian professional tennis ace and coach, Harry Hopman. Some of the former tennis players including Charlie Fancutt and Paul McNamee conceptualized the mixed team’s tournament, with one of Mr Harry’s favourites, mixed doubles, as a main aspect.
The championship was backed by the former Australian tennis ace, Pat Cash who also represented Australia in the opening event from 1988 to 1989. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) later on also officially approved the competition. Two years later, the consistent participation of top ranked players from women as well as men’s side further highlighted its status with the rivals.
The International tennis federation now proudly manages the mixed team’s competition, organizing it alongside the Davis Cup tournament for men as well as the Fed Cup championship for women. Other tennis events that the ITF manages include all four of the Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympic Games as well as a couple of youth and veterans competitions.
In spite of the fact that Harry Hopman is best recognized as the tennis coach, he was a pretty good player as well. The Australian grabbed a total of seven major doubles as well as mixed doubles trophies, a couple with his first better half, Nell. Moreover, he was also a part of the Australian Davis Cup side that won back in 1939 and made his way into the final of the Australian singles tournament on three occasions.
The International Tennis Federation definitely feels pride in maintaining the convention of having the competition named after one of the greatest players of the game of tennis.
In a more recent news about the Hopman Cup 2011, the grass court Grand Slam champion as well as the current top ranked tennis ace from the women’s side, Serena Williams will team up with her fellow American tennis player from the men’s side, John Isner in the mixed doubles of the Hopman Cup competition next year during the month of January.
John Isner grabbed everyone’s attention after his marathon match at the All England Club in Wimbledon this season. The match stretched for a period of eleven hours before Isner won it at last after knocking down Nicolas Mahut.
The former major champ Justine Henin teams up with Steve Darcis for Belgium where as second ranked tennis ace, Novak Djokovic along with Ana Ivanovic will represent their country, Serbia.
Moreover, Gael Monfils as well as Lleyton Hewitt will also participate for their respective sides. As far as Hewitt’s partner is concerned, it is yet to be decided where as the seventh seeded Monfils will team up with Kristina Mladenovic.
Over all, Paul McNamee who is the director of the competition has announced a total of five pairs of the sole eight countries championship starting from the 1st of January, 2011.
Williams on the other hand, will be playing on the third occasion in the team competition, having succeeded in the championship on both of her previous appearances.
McNamee while commenting on the Hopman Cup stated that, "It's a brilliant match up. The tournament highlights some great link ups for both women as well as men without any question”.
Novak Djokovic captured his very first major trophy at the hard court Australian Open competition back in 2008 after participating at the Hopman Cup and likely a comeback to Perth will see history repeat.
"I'm really excited on returning to the Hopman Cup," Djokovic said. “As far as I am concerned, it was a nice warm up for the Grand Slam Australian Open."
Last season's mixed final featured British team Laura Robson and Andy Murray defeated 2-1 by Spain.
Tags: