Federer had won both his singles matches so far this week, first beating Yuichi Sugita of Japan before dispatching Russia’s Karen Khachanov, both in straight sets.

The victories came at little expense for Federer, who looked supreme throughout, an important aspect with his main Australian Open rivals almost all struggling with injury.

Across the net, Sock too had a problem. A fall against Sugita earlier in the week forced him to retire from their match during the second set, but the American appeared to have overcome the hip complaint he picked up two days ago and was fit enough to face Federer.

But he could do nothing to halt the progress of the world No 2, who nicked a first-set tie-break before recording the only break of serve in the 23rd game of the match and serving it out. Here's how it all happened, game by dramatic game.

Roger Federer vs Jack Sock AS IT HAPPENED

11.15am: It now comes down to Belinda Bencic, CoCo Vandeweghe and the mixed doubles to determine who goes through to Saturday. We'll be here to bring that final to you live as we have today. Let's hope we've got a mouth-watering match-up - one way or another!

11.10am: Sock was obviously there to enjoy the tennis but he was also working pretty hard.

Federer is typically humble in victory. 

“I like the guy,” Federer says.

“He’s great for the game and he’s an incredible shot-maker. Next time might be the one where he gets me.

“It’s great that a guy can take it easy and play great tennis.”

Federer has once again broken the record for a Hopman Cup attendance by the way. More than 14,000 people watching him play tonight.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s so much fun playing in front of you guys. Hopefully we’ll see you next year,” Federer adds.

ROGER FEDERER BEATS JACK SOCK 7-6, 7-5

The final game is so often Federer's best, smelling blood and crushing his opponent in the home stretch. It's not all plain sailing, miscuing a forehand well long after jumping out to 30-0, but he sticks at his task, dealing with some Sock forehand bombs impressively before serving out his toughest match of the week.

*Federer 7-6, 6-5 Sock (* denotes next to serve)

Great power and poise from Sock, first reading a Federer pass to jam a drop-volley and then seizing on a short ball to bludgeon a forehand winner.

A massive Federer return at close to 100mph makes it 40-30 and an untimely double-fault takes us to deuce. Break point follows and Sock makes volley after volley but Federer gets them all back and the Swiss breaks at last.

Federer 7-6, 5-5 Sock*

A double-fault hands Sock an early lead in game 11 of the second set and another makes it 30-30. But he misses the forehand pass, a makable one, by a few inches.

However, consistent backhand hitting to the baseline earns him deuce - only for a Federer ace and clinical volley to produce the hold.

*Federer 7-6, 4-5 Sock

Superb angled volley from Sock, who is a doubles champion at Wimbledon and the Olympics remember. He’s no mug at the net. Federer gets a sniff at 40-30 and lands one on the baseline which Sock thought was out. But at deuce, Federer misses a forehand long and Sock seals the game with a flamboyant forehand, nearly running into a ball-boy in the process.

Federer 7-6, 4-4 Sock*

I think Federer’s backhand is STILL get better. That is a scary thought. Someone asked him this week if he is better now than he ever has been and I am starting to think he might be. A couple of backhand winners give him the lead in the game and Sock tries to charge the second serve at 40-15 but can’t land the return.

*Federer 7-6, 3-4 Sock

Remember that Sock pushed Federer pretty hard at the ATP World Tour Finals, so we shouldn’t be surprised that the world No 8 is putting up a decent fight this time around.

And he finds another big forehand at 30-30 before a Federer unforced error ends the game.

Federer 7-6, 3-3 Sock*

All sorts of blame games from Sock, now claiming the wind put him off a Federer forehand. Federer isn’t making any excuses though, despite a double-fault and a netted backhand.

But yet another Sock error at a crucial moment (30-30) gives Federer game point and he holds. That’s 18 in a row in this match now on serve.

*Federer 7-6, 2-3 Sock

Sock tries to hit a backhand drop shot but it is far too loopy and Federer swats it away with ease. But Sock's serving is hitting a rhythm - as well as his challenging, with Hawkeye giving him a millimetre of ball on the line down the middle.

Federer 7-6, 2-2 Sock*

Sock knows he isn’t far away from Federer in this match and it’s slightly frustrating when he gets into a rally at 30-15 only to fly the backhand long.

*Federer 7-6, 1-2 Sock

A bad time for a double-fault for Sock to bring up 0-30, who is looking at his finger as though he might have a blister of sorts.

There is an ace but then another unforced error from Sock to bring up two break points. He belts a ball into the crowd in frustration, but without a smile. He’s genuinely annoyed with himself there.

But he steels himself and saves both, the second with a superb second serve. He wins two more points to hold and Sock remains unbroken - as is Federer.

Federer 7-6, 1-1 Sock*

Fabulous from Federer, popping a delicate volley to Sock's left as he runs right, before showing more skills at the net and slicing a forceful pass down for a winner.

Sock meanwhile is trying almost anything to unsettle the Swiss, calling his name before hitting shots and all sorts. They are having fun, but competitive fun.

*Federer 7-6, 0-1 Sock

Important, having really had that set pinched by the finest of margins, for Sock to record a strong hold there. He does so, losing just one point and beating Federer all ends up wit ha kick serve to seal it.

FIRST SET TIE-BREAK - Federer WINS 7-5

Federer gets the first mini-break, running down a ball well behind the baseline and making a fine pass to leave Sock on his back at the net. The Swiss walks up to the net and hops over to check the American is alright - but shows little sympathy once he is back on his feet, taking another point off the Sock serve.

Sock gets one back but still trails at the changeover.

The American gets back to parity at 4-4 but then nets a shocking forehand at 4-5 to bring up two set points. The first he saves with a serve but then, having run down a Federer drop volley, the Swiss finishes the set with a backhand overhead.

*Federer 6-6 Sock

Tie-break it is! Sock holds to love.

Federer 6-5 Sock*

There is a reminder of Sock's weapondry at 30-0, slapping a forehand down the line, as much a demonstration of footwork as power and timing. But Federer gets himself two game points only for Sock to win three straight points and force another break point.

However, he saves it with a classic serve out wide, his preferred pattern of play on those big points in the advantage court, and seals the game with his 10th ace of the match. Impressive.

*Federer 5-5 Sock

Brilliant tennis and brilliant entertainment. Sock has a comic complaint about all the Swiss flags in the crowd - prompting a few US flags to appear when he wins the next point.

Both are enjoying themselves and Sock even more so when he wriggles past Federer at 40-15 to seal the game.

Federer 5-4 Sock*

Little bit of hobble from Sock at the baseline but he will be encouraged by the fact that he has 15-30… only for Federer to seize on a short ball and hammer it past him.

Sock still manages to force a break point though, Federer miscuing a forehand wide. But the Swiss saves well and eventually secures the service hold.

Sock will be cursing that missed opportunity.

*Federer 4-4 Sock

Anything you can do, I can do too. Sock has hit his serving rhythm and holds to love as well. That was just 61 seconds. Won't someone PLEASE think of the live-bloggers??

Federer 4-3 Sock*

You feel this pressure will surely tell on Sock eventually, as Federer holds to love to throw the serve right back at the American. Sock is grinning at how little he can get on the Federer serve at the moment.

*Federer 3-3 Sock

Big wobble that from Sock. Three unforced errors bring up three more break points for Federer but the first goes when Sock slaps a forehand clean.

Another winner makes it 30-40 and soon we are, for the second consecutive Sock service game, at deuce. Credit to the 25-year-old for that, who holds at the first opportunity.

Federer 3-2 Sock*

Federer has well and truly found his range. A forehand winner is clocked at 93 mph, on the line too. Sock barks “yup” before it even lands to acknowledge its quality.

Two unforced errors from Sock hand the Swiss two game points and he takes the first. On serve after five.

*Federer 2-2 Sock

A stunning rally forces Federer to the net but a delicate pick-up lands plumb on the baseline and deceives Sock, who subsequently double-faults.

A baseline rally ensues at 15-30 and Federer pings a stellar backhand winner to bring up to two break points.

However, Sock finds two first serves that get him out of trouble and two points later, he holds.

Federer 2-1 Sock*

Another ace from Federer, out wide into the advantage court, sets up two game points and he follows it with another.

*Federer 1-1 Sock

Sock has his cap on backwards which I, an old-fashioned curmudgeon, cannot abide. But that’s what the youngsters do these days.

So much of what Sock does well is based around that loose, powerful forehand but Federer has one of those too - although he flies a couple long in Sock’s opening service game. The American holds to 15.

Federer 1-0 Sock*

The Swiss opens up with an ace and closes the game with a signature inside-out forehand, picking up a short ball extremely quickly. That love hold took just 67 seconds.

9.35am: The players are out, warm and ready. Federer to serve…

9.15am: This should be fun. Federer was in an exceedingly good mood on Tuesday during his win over Khachanov and has already lauded the informal nature of the Hopman Cup, which is technically an exhibition tournament.

Sock too is a man who likes to laugh on the court, even when the stakes are at their highest, and Federer was quick to warn that the jovial atmosphere could bring out the best in the young American.

They'll both be out on court in a couple of minutes, smiles and all, to knock up ahead of their best-of-three-set clash.