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The Indian Aces and Singapore Slammers started the proceedings in the fourth and last leg of the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League in Dubai on Thursday. After a very successful leg in India, the IPTL resumed action with the league leaders taking on the last-placed team.
The Aces entered the match as favourites and by the end of it, had re-established their dominance in the league. Here is how the action unfolded.
Women’s singles
The match started with Aces’ star Ana Ivanovic taking on Daniela Hantuchova. Both players struggled to hold serve throughout, as one break was repeatedly followed by another.
The set ultimately went into a shoot-out which the Ivanovic won, much to the relief of the Indian Aces bench.
Result: Ivanovic (Indian Aces) beat Hantuchova (Singapore Slammers) 6-5.
Legends’ singles
Team captain Fabrice Santoro took the court for the Indian Aces as he faced Pat Rafter of the Singapore Slammers. Santoro continued his impressive form in the absence of Pete Sampras, showing quick feet and excellent court coverage throughout the set.
Rafter had no answer to the Frenchman’s guile, and eventually succumbed to extend the Aces’ lead in the match.
Result: Santoro (Indian Aces) beat Rafter (Singapore Slammers) 6-3.
Mixed doubles
Indian stars Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna were up next, taking on Daniela Hantuchova and Bruno Soares of the Singapore Slammers. The Aces did not start the match on the right foot and the Slammers pair played the better tennis.
Service breaks for both sides meant the set would go to another shoot-out, after the teams were locked at 5-5. Mirza and Bopanna managed to narrowly edge past to take the shoot-out 7-6.
Result: Mirza/Bopanna (Indian Aces) beat Hantuchova/Soares (Singapore Slammers) 6-5.
Men’s doubles
Rohan Bopanna stayed on court as he partnered Gael Monfils, against Bruno Soares and Australian ace Lleyton Hewitt. The Indo-French pair managed to outclass and overpower their opponents, comfortably taking the set. With the win, the Aces made it four sets in four and they now held a commanding lead in the match.
Result: Monfils/Bopanna (Indian Aces) beat Hewitt/Soares (Singapore Slammers) 6-3.
Men’s singles
Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych played the final set of the match, with the Slammers facing a daunting task of cutting down the Aces’ lead. But the Czech star managed to break the Aces’ momentum, controlling the pace of the game. Monfils made some crucial errors as the set went to the Slammers.
Result: Berdych (Singapore Slammers) beat Monfils (Indian Aces) 6-3.
The match continued as the winning team needs to take the final game of the match. Berdych managed to win two more games but Monfils responded with a strong service game to seal the match for the Indian Aces.
Overall result: Indian Aces beat Singapore Slammers 28-24.
