IPTL: Micromax Indian Aces beat Manila Mavericks 24-15
The Manila Mavericks were looking to get full points after losing their opening match at home. The players got a rousing reception from the fans in Manila.
Legends Singles
Carlos Moya started things off against Fabrice Santoro in the first set. Santoro broke the Spaniard’s serve in the first game and was aggressive with his ground strokes. Moya took an injury timeout after the fifth game and was replaced by Daniel Nestor.
Nestor was no match for Santoro as Aces won the first set 6-1.
Men’s Doubles
Treat Huey and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were in top form against the pairing of Gael Monfils and Rohan Bopanna. The Mavericks dominated from the first game and did not let the Aces into the set thanks to wonderful volleying and winners on both sides of the court.
Monfils and Bopanna failed to hold their serves and did not break Tsonga’s serve during the latter stages of the set. The Mavericks achieved their first bagel of the tournament.
Huey/Tsonga beat Monfils/Bopanna 6-0.
Men’s Singles
Andy Murray was under pressure after losing his first singles match against Marin Cilic on Day 1. Monfils had won his first match against Lleyton Hewitt. Murray played a solid game in the first few games and broke Monfils’s serve to go up 3-2. The lead did not stay long as the Frenchman broke in the eighth game to even things up at 4-4.
It was Murray who was feeling the heat to stay in the set after Monfils held his serve to lead 5-4 with fine serving. Murray was broken in the tenth game with attacking tennis by the Frenchman to take the set 6-4.
Monfils beat Murray 6-4.
Mixed Doubles
Murray was back after his loss in the singles. He partnered Maria Sharapova in the mixed doubles for the fourth set. They took on the Indian duo of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna.
The experience of Mirza and Bopanna showed as they outclassed the Mavericks team with amazing play near the net. Bopanna wasn't afraid to go his shots in long rallies and came up trumps in crucial points. Murray eventually held his serve after being 0-5 down, but it wasn’t enough as Mirza served out the set by getting her first serves in.
Mirza/Bopanna beat Sharapova/Murray 6-1.
Women’s Singles
Sharapova had the hopes of the home team on her shoulders as she tried to reduce the games deficit. Ana Ivanovic was confident after her 6-0 thrashing of Hantuchova in the first match. Both players struggled on their ball tosses and served several double faults.
The set swung one way and another as Sharapova broke Ivanovic’s serve in the eighth game to reduce it to a two game advantage to the Serb. However, Ivanovic broke right back in the ninth game when Sharapova was leading 40-30 thanks to a power point.
Ivanovic beat Sharapova 6-3.
Micromax Indian Aces beat Manila Mavericks 24-15.