The Hopman Cup has reached yet another dramatic finale in its illustrious history as hosts Australia Green get set to face-off against their European rivals Ukraine in a fitting climax to a thrilling twenty-sixth edition. Having both usurped the odds to reach the final by outwitting more heavily fancied opponents, the final looks too close to call.
Australia Green fulfill their potential as others falter
Made up of the always entertaining, if controversial, Nick Krygios and the less controversial but equally entertaining Daria Gavrilova, much was expected of the Australia Green team going into the tournament. However, having been paired with France, Germany and most notably Great Britain in Group B, very few expected them to romp so convincingly to the final as they did.
Not losing a single tie in their three matches, the Aussies produced big tennis when it mattered as they sent their more fancied opponents packing. This was especially true of Kyrgios, the youngster with a fiery reputation. Fully focussed on his tennis, he has performed with power and skill and looked every bit the player everyone knows he can be. Dismantling Kenny De Schepper, Alexander Zverev and most notably Andy Murray to the loss of a single set, he has thrilled the Perth crowd with tennis of the highest degree.
'It's going to be hard work trying to get to sleep tonight. #Buzzing #Much #HopmanCup' @NickKyrgios on Twitter
Whilst his partner Gavrilova may have struggled to live up to the heady heights set by Kyrgios, she has been no slouch either, defeating former grand slam finalist Sabine Lisicki in straight sets in her opening match, before losing to Heather Watson in a three-set thriller and then matching Caroline Garcia all the way. The former Russian's game, has however, proved especialy useful during their doubles matches, which the Aussies have won all three.
Having to defeat France to ensure their place in the final, Gavrilova and Kyrgios saved match points before securing a stunning 11-9 victory in the muxed doubles, sending the Brits packing once more, who they had also beaten in a mixed doubles decider 11-9 in the third.
They have both spoken of how 'special' it is to have reached the final infront of a home crowd and look forward to trying to bring it 'home' and reward the support.
When it comes to tennis, Australia Green have thrilled, laughed and dominated, the only nation standing between them and the trophy returning to Australia soil for the first time since 1999 is Ukraine.
Svitolina and Dolgopolov play to devastating effect
Going into the tournament with an outside chance of progressing from Group A which contained a US team with Serena Williams, Elina Svitolina and Alexandr Dolgopolov have been equally as good as the Aussies. Winning every single one of their ties, although they were helped by the inury problems of Williams who had to pull out from the tournament, they proved a sensational pair.
Both making their debuts in the tournament, neither have lost a singles match, with Svitolina especially impressive seeing off Fed Cup winner Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. However, as a pair, they have faltered and lost every single one of their mixed doubles matches, and failed to even pick up a set against a makeshift American pairing of Jack Sock and Vicky Duval.
'Ukraine in the Hopman cup finals! Yoohoooo'
@TheDolgo on Twitter
They will be hoping to make history as the first ever Ukrainians to win the tournament as they look to go one better than siblings Natalia and Andrei Medvedeva who lost in the 1995 final to a German side containing Boris Becker and Anke Huber, the only other time the Eastern Europeans have reached the final.
Who will claim the sought after prize?
The final really is too close to call and a look at the head-to-heads amongst the players leaves one none the wiser, with only Svitolina and Gavrilova having played one another. That was in Doha just last year, in a tussle which lasted just over two and a half hours with Svitolina the eventual winner over the then Russian.
However, the vastly superior player in terms of ranking and the only finalist inside the top twenty, Svitolina looks to be the favourite between the two WTA players, especially given that she is yet to lose a singles match this year.
For the men it really is a case of new horizons with both players set to meet for the first time in what is sure to be match of enigmas. Kyrgios, the devastating player of the tournament, Dolgolpov, a man capable of beating the best on his day and then barely hitting a ball on his worst. The match up promises to be both thrilling and unpredictable.
If Dolgopolov were to do the unthinkable and defeat Kyrgios, assuming the WTA match played out as expected, then the tournament would find itself with the finale it deserves with a mixed doubles required to crown a champion. In this instance, the smart bet would be on the Aussies.
However, we wouldn't love tennis if it wasn't unpredictable and with all that has gone on during this year's Hopman Cup you wouldn't put another shock beyond possibility. Whatever happens, its been another tournament to remember Down Under and hopefully the final will surely befit the occasion.