IPTL 2015: Philippine Mavericks beat UAE Royals on home ground, Federer suffers shock upset
The UAE Royals kicked off the IPTL with aplomb, leading proceedings through the Japan leg. But it all fell apart from there, as they regularly faltered in the subsequent legs in Manila and New Delhi.
With only one win in their last five matches, the Royals will likely be down on motivation. But that issue could possibly be remedied, or alleviated somewhat, with the presence of former World No. 1 Roger Federer.
Although the Swiss Maestro was unable to notch a win in his last two games in the India leg, he took his singles match against Rafael Nadal down to the wire before Nadal ousted his longtime rival in a shootout. Much was expected from him in the Royals’ first home game of the season, against the fourth-placed Philippine Mavericks.
(For tickets to UAE Royals matches, click here).
Unfortunately for them, however, the visitors’ surprise debutant in the form of Ivo Karlovic proved too hot to handle for the home team. Here’s a look at how the tie unfolded.
Legends’ singles: Goran Ivanisevic (UAE Royals) vs James Blake (Philippine Mavericks)
Mavericks’ coach and legend Mark Philippoussis sat this one out, with former World No. 4 James Blake making his IPTL debut for the side. While Ivanisevic is known for his big, strong serves, Blake was always known for his powerful forehand and his own fast serve.
Having never met on the professional circuit, the two players faced an unknown demon today.
Ivanisevic started off the IPTL strong, but has faltered of late, going down 2-6 to Philippoussis in the pair’s last meeting and losing to the Indian Aces’ Fabrice Santoro from what was a certain winning position.
Blake, a complete newcomer to the IPTL, would have been expected to go down to the Croat, but appears to have taken to the format instantly. The pair fought tooth and nail, with an athletic Blake playing a cleaner, less error-filled game as he hit 11 winners on course to taking Ivanisevic to a shootout.
The breaker also looked to be going the way of sudden death, but it was Blake who came out on top, winning the shootout 7-5 and with it the set, 6-5.
Blake’s win put the Philippine Mavericks in a 6-5 lead.
Result: Blake def. Ivanisevic 6-5
Women’s singles: Kristina Mladenovic (UAE Royals) vs Ajla Tomljanovic (Philippine Mavericks)
Both 22-years-old and junior Slam winners, Mladenovic and Tomljanovic have a history, having played each other frequently on the juniors circuit. This IPTL season, although the French Mladenovic has occasionally shown the skill that won her two Grand Slams, she has been inconsistent, playing error-strewn games which have cost her several sets.
Mladenovic has had a better outing on the WTA circuit than Tomljanovic, but it is the Croat who has come out on top in both of the pair’s last two meetings .She’s also beaten giants like Jelena Jankovic and Agnieszka Radwanska in the past, so it was not a shoo-in for the Royals.
Mladenovic may not have been able to plug the error loophole in her games, but she did thoroughly outclass her competitor, and with nine winners beat Tomljanovic 6-2.
Her win gave the UAE Royals an 11-8 lead.
Result: Mladenovic def. Tomljanovic 6-2
Mixed Doubles: Cilic/Mladenovic (UAE Royals) vs Roger-Vasselin/Gajdosova (Philippine Mavericks)
Mladenovic’s longtime doubles partner (whom she has won two Grand Slam wins) sat this one out, with Marin Cilic brought on in lieu of Daniel Nestor. Meanwhile doubles expert Roger-Vasselin, who’s reached the finals of four Majors this year and won two, has been playing closely contested matches at the league.
With a new partner in Jarmila Gajdosova, it was difficult to assess who would come up trumps, but on the basis of experience alone, it seemed the set would go the UAE Royals’ way.
The pairs went level, holding serve at 2-2, until the Mavericks drew first blood to break their rivals. They cruised up a break until the Royals broke them back to level yet again. Now at 4-4, the teams would eventually tie at 5 games all as they went to the second shootout of the evening.
Winning 7-4 in the shootout, the Mavericks won the set 6-5. Their win narrowed the UAE Royals’ lead drastically as the home team now led 16 games to 14.
Result: Roger-Vasselin/Gajdosova def. Cilic/Mladenovic 6-5
Men’s doubles: Federer/Cilic (UAE Royals) vs Roger-Vasselin/Huey (Philippine Mavericks)
Huey and Roger-Vasselin are both strong doubles players, and although they’ve lost each of the three sets they’ve played together, they were all closely contested.
Federer and Cilic are a new pair, created for the purposes of the IPTL, and played their first game together against Nadal and Bopanna, eventually losing 6-4.
The more experienced doubles pair took the win tonight, with Roger-Vasselin and Huey playing a cleaner game, hitting only four unforced errors to a staggering 14 by the UAE Royals. The Royals’ carelessness proved to be their undoing as they lost the set 4-6.
The Mavericks’ win took the teams neck-and-neck at 20 games apiece.
Result: Roger-Vassein/Huey def. Federer/Cilic 6-4
Men’s singles: Roger Federer (UAE Royals) vs Ivo Karlovic (Philippine Mavericks)
Federer lost against longtime rival Rafael Nadal in the only singles set he’d played in the IPTL before this, but that perhaps could be discounted considering his rustiness and the time most people take to adjust to the format.
Karlovic was the second debutant of the night, and the big-serving Croat decided it was his time to shine. Fresh off another tennis league, Karlovic did not seem in any way fatigued.
The pair cruised on serve, going level at 3-3 until the Croat first broke Federer to lead 4-3. Each then held, and with the scores at 5-4, it was Karlovic who would be serving for the set, and with the teams at 25-24, the match.
Despite Federer’s calibre, the two were complete equals statistically, with each hitting 10 winners. Karlovic ultimately kept his serve steady to come up trumps with a 6-4 win, and sealed victory for the Philippine Mavericks 26-24.
Result: Karlovic def. Federer 6-4