Pune Marathas vs Hyderabad Aces: Visiting team makes a roaring comeback in thrilling encounter

The big-serving Philippoussis outhit his former coach
The big-serving Philippoussis outhit his former coach

The second day of the CTL saw Hyderabad play host to the Pune Marathas in the latter’s opening match, and what an electrifying battle it was! Pune squeezed out a win in a tense encounter, and here’s how they did it:

Legends’ encounter: The Scud throws down one missile too many

It was an intriguing contest first up today, as Mark Philippoussis, nicknamed ‘The Scud’, took on his former coach Pat Cash in the legends’ set. The 1987 Wimbledon champion started proceedings with a typical serve-and-volley game, holding his serve despite a few advances by his former protégé. In contrast, Philippoussis’ opening service game saw him struggle and had him save three break points before he could hold on the deciding point.

The decisive move, however, was made by the younger Aussie as he broke Cash’s serve with a series of blistering groundstrokes in the seventh game, and followed it with a quick hold to lead the set 5-3. Philippoussis’ mammoth serve came to the party towards the end, and a second break allowed him to seal the set for Hyderabad at 6-3, to go 1-0 up in the tie.

Mixed doubles: Hingis brings back the magic

The start of the mixed doubles set between Mikhail Youzhny / Martina Hingis and Marcos Baghdatis / Agnieskza Radwanska saw two comfortable holds of serve by both teams followed by two breaks and counter-breaks each, to keep the match on level terms. Hingis and Youzhny then held their serve to make it 4-3 in the seventh game, with Hingis in particular unfurling some magical volleys and deft touch at the net.

Pune were under pressure, but they responded superbly to level the set at 4-4. That was followed by two more holds which enforced the tie-break.

Hyderabad won the opening three points without much ado, only to allow Pune to come back and equalise the set at 3-3. But Russia’s Youzhny hit two back-to-back winners off Baghdatis’ serve to take the set 6-5 and help his team go up 2-0 in the tie.

Women’s singles: Radwanska outsmarts her role model

Agnieszka Radwanska managed to outsmart the Queen of Cunning
Agnieszka Radwanska managed to outsmart the Queen of Cunning

This was a fascinating set to watch – two players with similar styles but separated by several years in age. Radwanska opened proceedings confidently by winning her opening service and breaking the Swiss, her one-time role model, to go up 2-0 in almost no time. Hingis did well to force the third game into the deciding point, but the Pole was able to outsmart her and consolidate the break.

Hingis continued to pressurise Radwanska in the fifth game, but Radwanska did well to withstand the attack and put herself in a commanding position at 4-1.

Despite her hiccup in the opening game, it was Hingis who was holding serve comfortably, forcing Radwanska to try and serve out the set. But Radwanska was equal to the challenge, fending off the threat to finally put Pune on the score-board with a 6-3 win, in the process reducing Hyderabad’s lead in total games as well.

Men’s doubles: Saketh Myneni wins the battle of the Indian underdogs

Both teams – Marcos Baghdatis / Saketh Myneni and Mikhail Youzhny / Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan – held their opening service games, although Pune did find themselves in an early spot of bother, with two double faults off Myneni’s serve. In the fourth game of the set, the Pune team faced two break points on Baghdatis’ serve but they managed to hold on for 2-2.

The sixth game saw Pune finally blink and give away their serve, allowing Hyderabad to take a 4-2 lead. But Youzhny and Nedunchezhiyan couldn’t sustain their momentum and were broken back immediately.

Things remained on serve from there, necessitating a tie-break for the second time in the day. In overtime, Pune faced no major setbacks as they took the set 6-5 and levelled the tie at two sets and 20 games apiece.

Men’s singles: Baghdatis has the last say

Marcos Baghdatis managed to hold his nerve
Marcos Baghdatis managed to hold his nerve

Three games into the final set and it was Baghdatis who finally got his team ahead in the tie, breaking Youzhny’s serve and thereafter consolidating the break. The set saw some entertaining rallies and powerful groundstrokes as the two men traded blows from the baseline.

Though Baghdatis looked poised to win the set early on, Youzhny broke him back to take the set to a tie-break yet again. The Cypriot then held his nerve in the final stretch to cap a thrilling victory for himself and his team.

Key match stats

Pune Marathas won the tie 26-25, winning three sets out of the total five, with as many as three sets going into a tie-break. Hyderabad Aces were unable to hold on to their momentum despite holding the early advantage, but credit must go to the Marathas for their never-say-die attitude.

Originally published on the Champions Tennis League website here.