IPTL Delhi: Indian Aces down Manila Mavericks; UAE Royals outplay Singapore Slammers NEW DELHI, DEC. 6: It was a festive atmosphere. The idea of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) had sold like hot cakes in India. In reality, it was just the dress rehearsal, as the super stars Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Pete Sampras were yet to set foot on Indian soil, let alone be part of the vibrant atmosphere at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Saturday. It was a fitting climax to the opening night in India as the entertainment spilt into super shoot-out, as Indian Aces recovered from a four-game deficit to beat Manila Mavericks 26-25, thanks to the energetic fare of Gael Monfils who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 10-7 in the super shoot-out. It had at one stage looked a low profile affair for the host, which was otherwise leading the table with 20 points. But, former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic, who has returned back to top-5, did the trick for the Aces as she bridged the four-point gap by beating Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, that tied the scores 25-25, after the five rubbers. Monfils had lost to Tsonga earlier, but knowing that it was his last chance before the big boys joined the team, Monfils used all energy to pip Tsonga at the post, after having lost to him earlier. The victory kept Aces on top with 24 points. The Aces got off to a lethargic start losing the mixed doubles and the legends singles. Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna lost the tie-break , but Bopanna returned with Monfils to pocket the mixed doubles in the tie-break. It was one hell of a match with Tsonga and Treat Huey also putting up a fabulous performance. Tsonga was a class act in the singles against Monfils, and showed glimpses of his game that had seen him reach the top-5 in the world and make the final of the Australian Open. Mark Philippoussis, literally playing on one leg, as his knee was heavily strapped, provided some fine spells of tennis to entertain the fans, even as Cedric Pioline struggled for the most part to keep pace with him. Earlier, It did not matter that the UAE Royals overwhelmed Singapore Slammers 28-16, and provided an extended entertainment, as the rules made provision for continued play when the trailing team wins the last rubber. It was a huge amphitheatre and there was no dearth of entertainment. The music did not matter, nor did the cheer girls make much of an impact by twisting their body like gymnasts. The entertainment transcended everything. The whole package was just too good. Indiscipline also helped in improving the atmosphere as the spectators in one spontaneous spell, descended to the better seats, from their higher perch. Nobody looked to mind, even though the difference between the cost of seats in the lower level to the corners of the top of the nice stadium, with a capacity of about 15,000, was quite a lot. Of course, it was the former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic who stole the thunder and the hearts of the spectators with his fluent serves and interaction with the fans. ‘’Thank you for cheering me, I played incredible’’, said the 43-year-old Ivansevic, in the post match ineraction after beating Patrick Rafter 6-1 in the battle of the ‘legends’, much to the delight of the spectators. Ivanisevic had fired an ace, and pointed to the fan in the crowd who had shouted ‘love you Goran’ that it was for him. The US Open champion Marin Cilic was too strong for the former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt who struggled initially to adust to the speed and bounce of indoor carpet. Cilic was equally intimidating in the men’s doubles with the former world No.1 doubles player, Nenad Zimonjic, in racing away with the match 6-2 against Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios. UAE Royals kept increasing the margin by winning the mixed doubles through Zimonjic and Kristina Mladenovic, against Kyrgios and Hantuchova. However, with Hantuchova winning the last runner against another former world No.1, Caroline Wozniacki, the entertainment continued as the trailing team had the chance to bridge the gap if it happened to win the last rubber. In the event, Wozniacki curtailed the extended work load on Hantuchova by winning one game to close the match out. It gave the spectators quite a lot of time to take ‘selfies’ to their heart’s content, before the second match. The results: Indian Aces bt Manila Mavericks 26-25 (Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza lost to Daniel Nestor and Kirsten Flipkens 5-6 (6-8); Cedric Pioline lost to Mark Philippoussis 4-6; Rohan Bopanna and Gael Monfils bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Treat Huey 6-5 (7-6); Gael Monfils lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6; Ana Ivanovic bt Kirsten Flipkens 6-2; Super shoot-out: Monfils bt Tsonga 10-7). UAE Royals bt Singapore Slammers 29-16 (Marin Cilic bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-3; Marin Cilic and Nenad Zimonjic bt Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios 6-2; Goran Ivanisevic bt Patrick Rafter 6-1; Nenad Zimonjic and Kristina Mladenovic bt Nick Kyrgios and Daniela Hantuchova 6-4; Carloine Wozniacki lost to Daniela Hantuchova 4-6; Super time out: Wozniacki bt Hantuchova 1-0).
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 04:16:15 +0000
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