5 most exciting match-ups involving the UAE Royals players at the 2015 IPTL

#4 Ana Ivanovic vs Maria Sharapova

Which former World No.1 – Maria Sharapova or Ana Ivanovic – will clinch this set?

Tennis enthusiasts in Kobe will get to see two of the most popular players on the WTA Tour squaring off against each other. The two glam girls of the modern women’s game, both former World No. 1s – Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic – are also two of the biggest fighters on the tour, and their match-up is guaranteed to generate plenty of heat.

Interestingly, the Russian and the Serbian haven't met each other after their dramatic three-setter in the Brisbane final back in January. It is finally the IPTL which is bringing them back together on the court again.

Five-time Major champion Sharapova’s 2015 season was marred by injury but the Russian had a confidence-boosting run towards the end of the season at the WTA Finals and the Fed Cup. Five wins out of six matches at those two tournaments clearly underlined that the quintessential warrior Sharapova is back to her best.

That might be ominous for the former French Open champion Ivanovic who has a 4-10 head-to-head record against the World No. 4. But the vibrant IPTL atmosphere and the fan chants happen to bring out the best from the Serb.

The World No. 16, who has one of the smoothest forehands on tour today, was one of the standout players last year and even prevailed over Sharapova when they met. She will look for an encoure of that performance when they meet this year in Kobe.