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The Manila Mavericks kick off their campaign against the UAE Royals in the second match of the first day of the IPTL. Both teams boast of big names and it will be interesting to see if the Manila team can start off with a win in front of the home crowd.
Each game is crucial as the team with the most number of games won goes on to win the match. Let us look at all the players who will take the court in the evening match.
Men’s Singles: Andy Murray Vs. Marin Cilic
The first match pits British No.1 Murray against the 2014 U.S Open champion Cilic. Murray showed tremendous resilience at the back end of the year by winning titles in Shenzhen,Vienna and Valencia to qualify for the ATP World Tour finals in London for seventh straight year. He couldn’t make it to the semifinals after being thrashed by Roger Federer in the Group B match.
Cilic, on the other hand qualified for the season ending finale for the first time thanks to an impressive showing in New York where he clinched his first Grand Slam title. He did not make it past the group stages in London.
Head to head: Murray leads 10-2.
Previous meeting: 2014 Beijing Open – Murray beat Cilic 6-1,6-4.
Women’s Singles: Maria Sharapova Vs Kristina Mladenovic
World No.2 Sharapova is coming into the IPTL after an impressive season where she won her fifth Grand Slam after clinching the title at Roland Garros. She had a disappointing outing at the WTA finals in Singapore failing to go past the group stage. Mladenovic is a doubles specialist and won her second Grand Slam mixed doubles title at the Australian Open this year. She is currently ranked 63rd in the singles and goes into tonight’s match as the underdog.
Head to head: Sharapova leads 1-0
Previous meeting: 2013 Wimbledon Championships – Sharapova beat Mladenovic 7-6, 6-3.
Men’s Doubles: Treat Huey/Daniel Nestor Vs Marin Cilic/Nenad Zimonjic
Nestor and Zimonjic have partnered each other on several occasions, but they will be on opposing ends tonight. The teams will be facing off against each other for the first time. It will be interesting to see how Cilic fares in the doubles.
Mixed Doubles: Kirsten Flipkens/Treat Huey Vs Kristina Mladenovic/Nenad Zimonjic
The mixed doubles match plays a crucial part in the match as two inexperienced teams face off against each other. Flipkens was ranked as high as No.13 in the world in singles, but she is concentrating more on her doubles at the moment. The teams will be taking on each other for the first time.
Legends Singles: Carlos Moya Vs Goran Ivanisevic
1998 French Open champion Moya takes on 2001 Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic in the legends singles rubber. The two haven’t faced each other for 13 years.
Head to head: Moya leads 3-1.
Previous meeting: 2001 Wimbledon Championships: Ivanisevic beat Moya 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
