Hopman Cup Round-Up: Andreescu and Auger-Aliassime-led Canada face Italy to battle for maiden title

Hopman Cup 2025 is set to conclude on Sunday with the final. The final of the competition will be played between Italy and Canada. This year’s competition is a unique one, as it has been played after a two-year gap.

Last year, the tournament was postponed because it was being played so close to the Paris Olympics tennis event. The tournament began in 1989, with the United States being the most successful team in the competition’s history, having lifted the title six times.

Croatia was the defending champion this year, having lifted the title in 2023 after beating Switzerland in the final with a score of 2-0. In that event, Croatia won both singles matches. Donna Vekic defeated Celine Naef in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. In the second contest, Borna Coric came out on top against Leandro Riedi in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-4.

This year, both Canada and Italy will be competing for their first-ever title. Italy started the competition brightly, defeating the defending champion Croatia with a score of 2-1. Lucia Bronzetti won the singles match against Vekic with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 10-1. In the other singles match, Flavio Cobolli defeated Duje Ajdukovic with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 10-6. In the only doubles contest, the Croatian team of Vekic and Ajdukovic came out on top with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 10-8.

In the semifinal, Italy defeated France with a similar scoreline to the one they won in both single matches. Bronzetti came out on top in three sets with a score of 6-4, 6-7, 10-8 against Chloé Paquet. Cobolli then won in straight sets against Richard Gasquet with a score of 6-2, 6-4. In the doubles fixture, Cobolli and Bronzetti were forced to withdraw after the first set, where Pacquet and Gasquet emerged victorious with a score of 6-4.

On the other hand, Canada’s journey has been far smoother. In their first fixture against Spain, Canadian players won all three matches. Bianca Andreescu won against Marina Bassols Ribera in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-1. Felix Auger-Aliassime also secured a straight-set win against Roberto Bautista Agut with a score of 6-3, 7-6. In the doubles event, the pair of Bassols Ribera and Bautista Agut decided to retire after losing the first set with a score of 6-4.

In the semifinals, Canada was too strong for the Greek side as well. In the first singles match, Andreescu defeated Despina Papamichail in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2. In the other singles match, Auger-Aliassime defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3. In the double event, Tsitsipas and Papamichail decided to retire after losing the first set with a score of 6-4.

The match will be a significant occasion for the Canadian duo of Andreescu and Auger-Aliassime, who have been struggling to produce their best on the court. In 2025, Andreescu featured in 12 matches on the tour across six different events, winning just six of them. On the other hand, Auger-Aliassime has featured in 41 matches on the tour and suffered 16 defeats.