Singapore: UAE Royals returned to winning ways by posting a thrilling 26-21 victory, which put an end to Manila Mavericks’ unbeaten run in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League on day two of the Singapore leg here on Wednesday.
With this win, the Royals have leapfrogged the Mavericks into second position in the table.
Despite going down 6-5 in a tightly contested first set, the Royals fought back well with Marin Cilic registering a win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Kristina Mladenovic showing her form as she closed out the final two sets and the match in convincing fashion.
UAE Royals will play Singapore Slammers on the final day of the Singapore leg today, before moving to New Delhi.
The match started with the Legends singles, which saw Maverick’s Mark Phillippoussis triumph over Goran Ivanisevic in an exciting super shoot-out.
But US Open champion Cilic brought UAE back on track in the men’s singles round as he broke serve in a hard hitting battle to outplay Tsonga 6-4. Tsonga then paired up with Treat Huey to produce a moment of magic for the Mavericks as the duo stole the set 6-3, defeating the star combination of Nenad Zimonjic and Marin Cilic in men’s doubles.
UAE bounced back once again with mixed doubles duo of Zimonjic and in-form Mladenovic thrashing Kirsten Flipkens and Daniel Nestor 6-1.
Mladenovic then took the momentum into the fifth and final set with her ground stroke game prevailing, wrapping up the set 6–4 against Flipkens in women’s singles to place UAE Royals in second spot. “I’ve been playing every match so far, doubles and mixed doubles, it is tough, you’ve got to stay focused, every point counts. A little lack of concentration could cost you the match and I think it’s important,” Zimonjic said. (PTI)