IPTL 2015: UAE Royals beat Singapore Slammers 27-23 to stay alive in the competition

Roger Federer clinched the Singles set against Stan Wawrinka

The UAE Royals defeated the Singapore Slammers 27-23 in their opening match of the Singapore leg of the 2015 International Premier Tennis League on Friday. The home side mamaged to win just one set on the night as the Royals dominated proceedings to seal a key win and keep their hopes alive for a finals berth.

Here’s how the match unfolded on the night:

1. Legends’ singles: Carlos Moya vs Goran Ivanisevic

In the first set of the match, both players started off equally well-matched, winning each of their opening four service games to keep the score tied at 4-4. It was then that the Croat took the first big step towards clinching the set, holding serve and forcing Moya to serve to stay in the set.

The pressure proved too much for the Spaniard as Ivanisevic obtained the first and only break of the set in dramatic fashion to win it 6-4 and get the rubber off to a positive start for his side.

Result: Ivanisevic beat Moya 6-4

2. Women's singles: Karolina Pliskova vs Kristina Mladenovic

The second set saw Pliskova take the early advantage as she won her opening service game before breaking the Mladenovic serve to take a vital 2-0 lead and make it 6-6 in the overall scheme of things.

But Mladenovic bounced back in fine fashion, first breaking the Pliskova serve in the third game and then winning her first service game of the set. That made it 2-2 and 8-6 for her side in the larger scheme of things.

The 23-year-old Czech put enormous pressure on the Frenchwoman thereafter though, clinching the seventh game to lead 4-3 after which she broke her opponent's serve by winning the deciding point. That gave her side a 5-3 advantage and made it 9-9 overall.

Mladenovic, though, kept the fight on, breaking her opponent’s serve in the ninth game and then winning a second straight game to make it 5-5 to take the set into a shootout. The seven-point affair started off on a tight note, but it was the Frenchwoman who took an initial upper hand taking a 3-2 lead.

But Pliskova hung on right till the end, chipping away at crucial junctures to level the shootout at 6-6. It was Mladenovic who won the battle of nerves, clinching the deciding point and winning the set 6-5 and more importantly, giving her side an overall lead of 12-8.

Result: Mladenovic beat Pliskova 6-5

3. Mixed doubles: Brown/Pliskova vs Federer/Mladenovic

This set began in similar fashion to the legends’ singles one, as both pairs won each of their opening two service games to make it 2-2. This was after the Slammers failed to capitalise on a Powepoint opportunity in the fourth game.

The first momentum-changer arrived in the eighth game of the set, when the Slammers broke the Royals’ serve to take a 5-3 lead. They then displayed good killer instincts to close the set down 6-3 and win their first set of the night.

The result meant it was dead even at 15-15 in total games won on the night.

Result: Brown/Pliskova beat Federer/Mladenovic 6-3

4. Men’s doubles: Kyrgios/Melo vs Federer/Nestor

The Royals began the set on a positive note, getting the break of serve in the first game itself to take a 1-0 lead. They then strenghthened their position in the set to 2-0 to put significant pressure on the Slammers duo.

That ‘significant pressure’ converted to ‘enormous pressure’ when Federer and Nestor broke their opponents’ serve for a second straight time to lead 3-0. The pair of Kyrgios and Melo then registered their opening points of the set when they broke the Royals’ serve and then won a second straight game, by converting a Powerpoint to close the gap and make it 3-2.

With the Royals leading 4-3 in the set, Stan Wawrinka replaced Kyrgios for the Slammers but it didn’t make a difference to the Royals, who clinched the game to lead 5-3. The pair of Wawrinka and Melo though hung on in the contest, taking the next point to make it 5-4.

But the inevitable happened in the very next game as Nestor and Federer closed the set down 6-4 and made it 21-19 for their side, overall.

It was the 17-time Grand Slam champion’s first set win in the 2015 edition of the IPTL.

5. Men’s singles: Roger Federer vs Stanislas Wawrinka

Perhaps the most awaited set of the night began with Federer taking the early upper hand, breaking his Swiss counterpart as early as the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Wawrinka clinched his maiden game in the set in the fourth game to make it 3-1.

But Federer seemed intent on finishing his 2015 IPTL campign on a high and put further pressure on his opponent by winning his third service game on the night to make it 4-1 in his favour.

Wawrinka brought some life back into the set, winning the next two games which included a break of serve to make it 3-4. After losing yet another return game, the seven-time Wimbledon champion held serve to make it 5-4 in his favour.

With Wawrinka serving to stay in the set, Federer struck again, getting the break to wrap up the tie for the Royals.