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The second match of the 2015 Champions Tennis League will see the home team Mumbai Tennis Masters squaring off against the Raipur Rangers at the MSLTA in Mumbai on Tuesday. It should be a thrilling contest with both sides boasting of Grand Slam champions - while the hosts have Flavia Pennetta and Richard Krajicek, Raipur Rangers are led by Thomas Muster.
Here’s a look at how the 5 different matches in the tie are likely to unfold:Women’s singles: Flavia Pennetta vs Alize CornetThis is an intriguing match-up as it presents a duel between two fabulous ball-strikers. Reigning US Open champion Flavia Pennetta has retired professionally after her best season ever, playing at the WTA Finals in singles for the first time in her career.
After the impressive form that she showed in Singapore where she beat eventual champion Agnieszka Radwanska, the Italian veteran is coming into the Champions Tennis League high on momentum.
On the other hand, Alize Cornet of the Raipur Rangers has not had a strong follow-up season in 2015 after her stellar 2014. But she is a dangerous opponent for anyone on the tour, especially because of her tenacity - she is the only player since Justine Henin to defeat Serena Williams thrice in a single season.
The 33-year-old Pennetta has had the better of the Frenchwoman all five times they have met, and her blistering backhand could well decide the outcome. However, if Cornet can take inspiration from her 2014 upsets of Serena Williams, she can certainly make life difficult for Pennetta.
Legends’ singles: Richard Krajicek vs Thomas Muster
Two familiar foes with different playing styles, each of whom has won a singles Grand Slam, locking horns with each other far away from home. Can it get any more fascinating for the Mumbai tennis fans? Even more exciting is the fact that these two legends are tied at 2-2 in their head-to-head record.
Dutchman Krajicek – a holder of 17 titles – was the grasscourt expert whose aggressive playing style coupled with a booming serve thoroughly aided him on fast-paced courts. The former World No. 4, who clinched the Wimbledon title in 1996, troubled the very best in the game with his attacking game, including the great Pete Sampras.
Thomas Muster, on the other hand, was known as the ‘King of Clay’ in his heyday. The Austrian, who climbed to the pinnacle of the world rankings, was the quintessential dirtballer - 41 of his 44 titles came on clay. The biggest of his titles, of course, was the 1995 French Open, where he beat former winner Michael Chang in the final.
This is a nostalgia-inducing match for fans of 1990s tennis, and a fantastic opportunity for the younger generation to watch these tennis icons in action.
Men’s singles: Santiago Giraldo vs Roberto Bautista Agut
The Indian crowd is quite familiar with Raipur Rangers’ Roberto Bautista Agut - he was the runner-up at the Chennai Open in 2013, losing a thrilling final to Janko Tipsarevic. The Spaniard, who subsequently went on to break into the top 15 of the world rankings, has a game that is an aberration from the familiar Spanish style of counterpunching.
Bautista Agut's variety and finesse have the potential to thwart the top players on faster surfaces and his title on grass at the 2013 Topshelf Open can vouch for that. He faces an opponent – Santiago Giraldo of the Mumbai Tennis Masters – who is very comfortable and steady from the baseline.
Having reached a career-high ranking of 28, the Colombian certainly can be a threat due to his relentless defense.But Agut has a 2-0 record over him, and looks primed to prevail in this encounter too.
Men’s doubles: Giraldo/Balaji v Bautista Agut/Ramanathan
This match will reward Indian tennis fans with a chance of witnessing one of India’s best young talents in action. 21-year-old Ramkumar Ramanathan, who will turn out in the Raipur Rangers jersey, is one of the brightest young Indian players around and has climbed to a career-high singles ranking of 208.
Ramanathan has played multiple junior Slams in singles and can certainly handle pressure situations, having stunned the likes of the much higher-ranked Somdev Devvarman two years ago. He is coming into the CTL having won an ITF $10K Futures title this weekend, and that should help him survive the crunch situations in this contest.
He will get able support from the volleying skills and the slices of Bautista Agut, and together they definitely look a very compact team.
The Mumbai Tennis Masters team is not too shabby either. Young Indian player Sriram Balaji has had reasonable success in doubles, having triumphed at India F2, F9 and F10 and also at China F10 this year. With Giraldo strong from the baseline, they could give the Raipur team a run for their money.
That said, on paper, the Raipur team certainly looks more likely to win with Ramanathan and Bautista Agut perfectly complementing each other.
Mixed doubles: Giraldo/Pennetta v Bautista Agut/Cornet
Pennetta’s supreme doubles skills should come in handy in this contest and would probably tilt the balance in favour of the home team. The Italian has been a former World No. 1 in doubles and also captured the Australian Open title in 2011. Her solid groundstrokes coupled with deft touches at the net would be a huge advantage for the Mumbai team.
In Bautista Agut and Cornet, Raipur have a lethal combination of players who can hold the fort from the baseline as well as the net. But Pennetta’s vast experience, coupled with Giraldo’s counterpunching skills, look likely to have the final word.
