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The inaugural edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) got off to a spectacular start with Indian Aces taking on the Singapore Slammers in the first match of the tournament. It was mixed doubled that kicked off things in Manila.
Mixed Doubles: Sania Mirza/Rohan Bopanna Vs Daniela Hantuchova/Bruno Soares
Bopanna got the Indian team to a perfect start as he held his serve with relative ease in the opening game. Soares evened things up in the next game with a fine service game. A couple of tight games were decided by a deciding point at deuce. Aces were the first to break as Hantuchova was broken in the fourth game after India took a power point, where a team gets a double point. Aces sped to a 5-2 lead, but the Slammers came right back to make it 4-5 after breaking Bopanna’s serve in the ninth game.
It was the Aces who took the set 6-4 after another service break in the tenth game.
Legends Singles: Fabrice Santoro Vs Pat Rafter
It was time for legends to take the court in the second match of the day. Santoro stuck to baseline play,while Rafter was more adventurous as he forayed to the net on more than a few occasions. The set went to a shootout after Rafter failed to close out the set at 5-4 on his serve. The shootout was played for a duration of five minutes and the Frenchman took an early lead with couple of mini-breaks of serve. Santoro played a smart game at the dying stages of the shootout by not giving the Australian enough time to settle into his rhythm.
Santoro took the second set 6-5 (8-4).
Men’s Doubles: Gael Monfils/Rohan Bopanna Vs Nick Kyrgios/Tomas Berdych
The Slammers came into this match trailing the Aces by three games. Singapore team took a 2-0 lead after Bopanna’s serve was broken in the first game of the set and Berdych held his serve without much trouble. Monfils struggled on his serve as well gifting the game away with two double faults. Kyrgios and Berdych were solid in their service games and took the set 6-2. Singapore team took the overall lead in games won to 15-14 with this win.
Women’s Singles: Ana Ivanovic Vs Daniela Hantuchova
Ivanovic looked in terrific form as she did not let Hantuchova settle in the fourth set of the encounter. The Serb returned well and was dominant on her forehand and backhand returns giving very little chance to the Slovakian to get back into the match. Ivanovic broke Hantuchova’s serve thrice to win the set 6-0.
Men’s Singles: Gael Monfils Vs Lleyton Hewitt
It was a surprise for many to see Hewitt play the last match. Monfils struck first to go 2-0 up, but the Australian struck right back to get things on serve. Monfils was ruthless for the remainder of the set as he broke twice during the latter half of the set to take the set 6-1.
Micromax Indian Aces beat DBS Singapore Slammers 26-16.
