Coca-Cola IPTL: Manila Mavericks vs UAE Royals preview
After sweeping past the Singapore Slammers, the UAE Royals will be hoping for a repeat performance agasinst the Manila Mavericks on Day 2 of the Indian leg of the Coca-Cola IPTL. The Mavericks lost a very close encounter against the home side Indian Aces last night, and will want to pick themselves up.
Only two points separate the two sides in the ‘Happiness Open’, with the Royals on 21 and and the Mavericks on 19 points. A win for the Manila team might see them jump up to second place, but it won’t be an easy task.
Men’s singles
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes on US Open champion Marin Cilic in the men’s singles set. Following last night’s epic encounter against Gael Monfils, Tsonga’s confidence might be a little shaken; although he defeated Monfils in the first set 6-4, he couldn’t handle the pressure of the Super Shoot-out and narrowly lost that, thus surrendering the match to the Aces.
Cilic will want to make the most of Tsonga’s inner troubles, and expect him put pressure on his opponent from the very first game. Whichever way this set goes though, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a hard-hitting affair.
Women’s singles
Kirsten Flipkens will take on Caroline Wozniacki in this potentially exciting set. Flipkens was clearly shattered after losing her last match against Ana Ivanovic, and she needs to recover quickly as she takes on another big star in Wozniacki.
But the Dane has yet to register a win in the tournament, so she will have her own demons to deal with. Neither player is particularly known for generating a lot of power from the baseline, so expect this to be a long, exhausting affair full of cat-and-mouse rallies.
Men’s doubles
The Mavericks hold an advantage in the men’s doubles tie with the experienced pair of Treat Huey and Daniel Nestor in their corner. Huey in particular has been very impressive for his team, and he has proven all the doubters of his skills wrong.
The Royals’ pair of Marin Cilic and Nenad Zimonjic will have to combine a lot better than they have been doing, and start commanding more on the court. The encounter looks set to be tightly contested, and we could potentially be in for a highly entertaining affair.
Mixed doubles
The experienced pair of Kirsten Flipkens and Daniel Nestor will be a big plus for the Manila Mavericks in this set. The Royals have Caroline Wozniacki and Nenad Zimonjic in their corner, and Wozniacki might find it tought to adjust to the doubles format, which she is not entirely comfortable with.
Flipkens on the other hand is an accomplished volleyer and possesses all the skills necessary for a doubles champ, so the Manila-based side definitely have the edge in this set.
Legends’ singles
The Mavericks must be very grateful for having two exeptional legends in their camp. Both Carlos Moya and Mark Philippoussis have a wealth of experience that they bring to the table, along with tremendous power and athleticism.
Either one of these two might play the set against former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic of the UAE Royals. The left handed ace matchine was in fine former in his last match and looks good to continue his dominating display, but he will have his task cut out if he is up against Philippoussis, who hasn’t lost a set in the tournament so far.