IPTL: UAE Royals beat Manila Mavericks 29-24
In the second match of the day,home team Manila Mavericks were up against the UAE Royals. The crowds had increased for this match and the likes of Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova,Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and local boy Treat Huey got a warm welcome to the stadium.
Legends Singles: Carlos Moya Vs Goran Ivanisevic
Moya and Ivanisevic renewed their rivalry in the first set of the encounter in Manila. Both showed no signs of aging as crowd witnessed aggressive tennis right from the start. Pendulum swung one way and then another and the set went to a tie-break after Ivanisevic saved four break points in the tenth game of the set.
Ivanisevic held his nerve in the shootout to take it 7-6.
Men’s Doubles: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga/Treat Huey Vs Marin Cilic/Nenad Zimonjic
Local lad Huey teamed up with Tsonga to take on doubles specialist Zimonjic and US Open champion Cilic in the second set of the match. The Croatian served beautifully and did not give the Manila team any break point opportunities. A solitary break proved enough for the UAE team to clinch the set 6-4 and lead the Manila team by 12-9 at the end of first two sets.
Mixed Doubles: Maria Sharapova/Andy Murray Vs Kristina Mladenovic/Nenad Zimonjic
Zimonjic was back on the court for the third set with Mladenovic. The duo got off to a perfect start breaking Sharapova’s serve in the fourth game to go 3-1 up. Murray’s serve was under pressure and he could not deliver handing a double break advantage to the visitors. However, Manila team struck back in the eighth game by breaking Mladenovic’s serve. Murray then held his serve to narrow the lead to 5-4 for the opposition. The experienced Zimonjic served out the set 6-4.
The UAE team led 18-13 after three sets.
Women’s Singles: Maria Sharapova Vs Kristina Mladenovic
Sharapova was back in action for the singles match. The early goings of the match was dictated by baseline play from both players. Mladenovic was the first to strike as she broke the Russian’s serve in the third game thanks to several unforced errors from Sharapova. The Russian broke back in the crucial tenth game to level scores at 5-5 to take the set into a tie-breaker. Sharapova eventually won the shootout 7-3 to win the first set for the home team.
The UAE team led 23-19 after four sets.
Men’s Singles: Andy Murray Vs Marin Cilic
It was Cilic who had the early advantage after a few unforced errors from the Brit handed a 3-1 lead to the Croat. But, Murray pulled things back after Cilic was broken from being 40-0 up in the fifth game. Cilic was the one serving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the last set.
The last set went for a shootout. It was Cilic who eventually prevailed 7-3 in the breaker.
Final Score: UAE Royals beat Manila Mavericks 29-24.