Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna continued their good form as Indian Aces dished out yet another dominating performance, beating Manila Mavericks 28-23 in the UAE leg of the International Premier Tennis league (IPTl) on Friday.
This was the second successive win for Indian Aces, who now have consolidated their position at the top of the table with 38 points from 11 matches. The Aces have so far won eight and lost three matches.
For the Mavericks, it is their sixth defeat in the tournament. They are now at the third position with 31 points from 11 games.
Facing the Mavericks for the second time in the tournament, the Aces were given a positive start by Fabrice Santoro, who battled a niggling injury, to see off Mark Philippoussis 6-3 in the legend's Match.
Frenchman Gael Monfils brushed off the disappointment of losing in the last match by beating compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 in the men's singles contest to give the Indian Aces a healthy 12-5 lead.
In the mixed doubles, Bopanna and Sania then swelled Indian Aces' lead further to 18-9 when they prevailed over Daniel Nestor and Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 in the third match of the day.
World number five Ana Ivanovic of Serbia then took the match further away from the Mavericks when she continued her winning run with a 6-3 victory over Kristen Flipkens of Belgium.
Frenchman Tsonga and Canadian Nestor finally posted Manila Maverick's only win in the day with a 11-4 victory over Bopanna and Monfils in the men's doubles contest — the fifth and the last but it was too late to have any impact on the tie.
IPTl and ‘traditional tennis’ can co-exist: Moya
New Delhi: The innovative rules and format of the International Premier Tennis league (IPTl) may have struck a chord with the Asian fans, generally starved of top-level action, but former World No.1 Carlos Moya believes the 'traditional' sport will stick to its conventional rules, though the inaugural tournament will ‘co-exist’ and thrive alongside the existing order.
“Top players are trying out different things but tennis is a traditional sport. But ATP and IPTl have their respective places in tennis and can co-exist together,” Moya, coach of the Manila Mavericks playing in the ITPl said on the sidelines of the Delhi leg of the competition.
The clay-court specialist, however, gave a thumbs up to the tweaks the compeition has introduced into the game said the concept is ‘exciting’.
The 38-year-old also spoke of his belief that the injured Rafael Nadal will return to action next year a lot fitter. He shot down suggestions that it was difficult for the left hander to return to his Grand-Slam winning glory days following a series of injuries. “We will have Nadal for at least three-four years at the top level. I am sure of that,” the 1998 French Open champion said.