Brisbane International Tennis 2014 Final: Roger Federer vs. Lleyton Hewitt, Live Stream, Schedule & Live Score
Roger Federer looks to open the 2014 ATP Season on a winning note, as he takes on another former world's No.1 and Grand Slam champion, Lleyton Hewitt, on Saturday in the men's singles final of the Brisbane International.
Coming off perhaps the worst season of his legendary career, Federer turned back time as he delivered impressive tennis throughout the tournament.
Federer, again using a larger racquet and playing under the tutelage of head coach Stefan Edberg, came through with a 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over France's Jeremy Chardy to arrange an entertaining final showdown with one of his bitter rivals since his junior days, Hewitt.
"We go back 17 years - our coaches back in the day were best friends," Federer said. "It's always special when we play," Federer said of Hewitt during the post-match interview via DNA India.
Hewitt, who blasted Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, also admitted he's looking forward to rekindling his rivalry with the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
"Obviously, Roger and I have a good history and a lot of tough matches in the past in slams, Davis Cups and everything," Australia's Hewitt told reporters. "I'm going to enjoy it," Hewitt said of Federer, whom he defeated in seven of their first nine head-to-head encounters.
However, Federer's luck against Hewitt reached its turning point in the 2003 Davis Cup final, where the Swiss tennis star blew a two-set and 5-2 third frame lead and eventually lost to the Aussie. Since then, Federer has been dominant in the last 17 meetings, with Hewitt booking a breakthrough victory in the final of the 2010 Halle Open.
"Nearly everyone had some kind of run against Roger in those years," Hewitt said. "He lost two or three matches for the year. Apart from losing to Rafa (Nadal) a couple times, he didn't lose too many matches. "In Halle, I got a little bit lucky but I did play a really good three-set match there."
Live Streaming & Schedule
Brisbane International Final: Roger Federer vs. Lleyton Hewitt final match will start at 10:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m (Australian Time). Live Streaming will be available and live scores and stat updates can be followed on the ATP World Tour's site.