"I have always thought how is it to return that serve and go head ... over Britain in Group B. Federer and Bencic will next take on Williams and Frances Tiafoe to kick-start the New Year with ...

but caused a dilemma for Federer throughout the match—should he stay close to the baseline and attempt to take the high-bouncing kick or a harder second serve early with a shorter swing ...

Impressively, Federer twice won the Cincinnati Open without losing serve. The first such occasion came in 2012, weeks after the Swiss had returned to form by winning his seventh Wimbledon title.