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It was an IPTL debut for World No. 1 Serena Williams. But it was the home team that finally gave the Manila crowd a victory to celebrate. The action started with the legends on court and ended with Andy Murray playing his final IPTL match of 2014.
Legend’s singles
With Carlos Moya out due to a groin strain, the Manila Mavericks called on Mark Philippoussis as they looked for their first win in the IPTL. Philippoussis took on fellow Australian legend Patrick Rafter of the Singapore Slammers in a match that started with both players hitting the ball hard and clean.
Rafter and Philippoussis were tied at 2-2, when the two-time Davis Cup winner took matters into his own hands. A magical shot on a ‘power point’ by Philippoussis gave the Mavericks a 4-2 lead. There was no looking back as The Scud smashed his way for a 6-2 win. Rafter had a good match overall, but could do very little to avoid a stunning IPTL debut win for Philippoussis.
Mark Philippoussis beat Patrick Rafter 6-2
Men’s doubles
Treat Huey and Jo-wilfried Tsonga took on Tomas Berdych and Lleyton Hewitt in an extremely tightly contested doubles set. The Singapore Slammers’ pair were off to a flying start against the home team, racing to a 2-0 lead.
The home crowd found their voices as they looked to inspire the Mavericks pair. It looked to have worked with the Mavericks taking the next three games on the trot for a 3-2 lead. Just as the momentum was swinging towards the Mavericks, Hewitt and Berdych managed to break and take a 4-3 lead. One Australian replaced the other as teenage sensation Nick Kyrgios subbed in for Hewitt at 4-4.
The Mavericks fought back much to delight of the home support to take the match into a shootout. They clinched the shootout in spectacular fashion to win the tie 6-5.
Treat Huey/Jo-wilfried Tsonga beat Tomas Berdych/Lleyton Hewitt/Nick Kyrgios 6-5 (7-5).
Mixed doubles
World No. 1 Serena Williams made her debut in the IPTL, partnering Lleyton Hewitt in the mixed doubles tie againt Murray and Kirsten Flipkens. It wasn’t a debut to remember for the American, as the Mavericks raced to a 5-0 lead. Singapore Slammers managed to get a game on board but the Mavericks sealed the set 6-1.
Andy Murray/Kirsten Flipkens beat Lleyton Hewitt/Serena Williams 6-1.
Women’s singles
The moment that Manila was waiting for: Serena Williams stepped on the court for her singles match against Kirsten Flipkens. The 18-time Grand Slam champion might have been playing for the Singapore Slammers but was gettin all the cheers from the home Manila crowd.
Serena did not disappoint as she raced to a 4-1 lead. Flipkens managed to get to within one game of the American but the World No. 1 took charge once again to finish off the match with the score 6-3.
Serena Williams beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-3.
Men’s singles
Andy Murray took the IPTL courts for one final time as he faced Nick Kyrgios in the last set of the tie. Both players had their service games broken in the opening games. There were more service breaks between them as Kyrgios held a 5-3 advantage. But Murray fought back to take the match into another shootout.
Murray managed to win a tense shootout to take the set 6-5.
Andy Murray beat Nick Kyrgios 6-5.
Manila Mavericks beat Singapore Slammers 27-19.
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