ONE of the most unique tennis tournaments which features both ATP Tour and WTA Tour players is the Hopman Cup. Given the world circumstance and the fact it was already skipped on the eve of last year, it looks to be either delayed later in 2021, or perhaps at the turn of the New Year in 2022. However, in this new series we wanted to look at some hypothetical Hopman Cup teams and what they might look like if there was no COVID-19 pandemic, and if the famed mixed tournament did go ahead.

We continue the series with Switzerland and Czech Republic, who have played 12 Hopman Cups each, making them equal fifth overall on the most Cups played.

Switzerland: Roger Federer & Belinda Bencic

It is amazing to think that this combination not only would be the dream combination, but is a reigning back-to-back winner at the event. It is easy to see why. The pair played in 2017, but then won together in 2018 and 2019, with the age gap something to marvel at as Belinda Bencic grew up supporting Roger Federer as a child. If they were both fit you would expect them to return to the tournament to try and win a third title together, though Federer also won the title back in 2001. If the 18-year gap between Federer’s first and most recent title does not make you feel old, keep in mind that 2001 title was won alongside Martina Hingis.

When Federer and Hingis lifted the title, Bencic was four years-old, and it was a dream for her to play alongside one of the greatest of all-time. The fairytale became endearing to fans when a photo from Bencic’s Twitter account circulated of her as a child alongside Federer, next to one of her alongside Federer competing at the event. If the pairing was not to compete, the Swiss do have some other options such as Stan Wawrinka and Jil Teichmann, with another large age gap in that duo as well. Though they would not be bad choices, having two top 15 players is hard to beat.

Czech Republic: Jiri Vesely & Karolina Pliskova

In the tennis world, some nations are heavily slated towards either the ATP or WTA Tours, and in the case of the Czech Republic, it is the latter with four players inside the top 30, and nine inside the top 100, making them the clear standout nation when it comes to women’s tennis. In terms of the Hopman Cup, the question would be put to the best of the lot in sixth ranked Karolina Pliskova, who might not have had the best 2020, but overall is the all-round talent. She would thrive in the conditions, and if it was not her, then Petra Kvitova would be a damaging talent to opposition nations at the event. Both Pliskova (2016) and Kvitova (2012, 2014) have competed at the Hopman Cup, so it is not farfetched to suggest the duo would consider putting their hands up if given the opportunity.

Having won the 1989 title under Czechoslovakia, and then 1994 and 2012 titles under the Czech Republic, the nation has been able to pull plenty of big names to the event. For the men’s side, they do not have as many top-end talents, but Jiri Vesely would be the pick to compete. With Tomas Berdych winning the title here in 2012 with Kvitova and having since retired, Vesely could look to do the same with the left-hander, or perhaps renew the duo with Pliskova who he teamed up with in 2016. If not Vesely, then the talent gets a little thing, with the world number 68 the clear standout. Tomas Machac is a 20-year-old talent coming through and is ranked 193rd in the world, while Jonas Forejtek way down in 357th is a teenager who showed some grit on debut this year.

Picture: EssentiallySports