Serena Williams.
Camera IconSerena Williams. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Hopman Cup runneth over

Denise S. CahillEastern Reporter

NEW hawk eye technology, dance cam and $10 children’s tickets will be part of Hopman Cup 2016 at Perth Arena.

Announcing the draw at Crown Perth last week, tournament director Paul Kilderry said next year’s event would have two Australian teams.

Kilderry said Lleyton Hewitt would play the Hopman Cup for the last time.

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“He was keen to play and we were happy to have him,” he said. “The crowds really get behind him.”

Hewitt will partner Casey Dellacqua for Australia Gold while Nick Kyrgios will represent Australia Green. His partner will be announced soon.

Australia Gold and Australia Green will play on the opening day – January 3 – against Germany (Sabine Lisicki and Alexander Zverev) and Lucie Safarova and Jiri Vesely from the Czech Republic respectively.

The US team of Serena Williams and Jack Sock will play the Ukraine (Elina Svitolina and Alexandr Dolgopolov) on day two when France’s Gael Monfils and Caroline Garcia will play Andy Murray and Heather Watson from Great Britain.

The 2016 field of players includes three world top 10 players and six grand slam champions.

Kilderry said Williams was one of the first confirmed players for 2016.

“We spoke to her at the French Open,” he said.

Williams won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon and reached the semi finals of the US Open following her appearance at this year’s Hopman Cup.

“Perth definitely started something quite amazing so I think it’s only natural and fair and reasonable that I go back to Perth,” Williams said. “For me the Hopman Cup is super great preparation for the Australian Open.

“In 2016 I want to play doubles in Australia so it will be really exciting for me to get there, play some doubles and get some little experience at the Hopman Cup.”