IPTL REPORT: Captain Philippoussis and Serena star in Mavericks’ victory over Warriors
THE PHILIPPINE MAVERICKS have made it a hat-trick of wins in the second edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) by defeating the Japan Warriors (25-21) in Manila, today.
The home team entered the contest as the favourites and certainly lived up to their billing. From ball one, Mavericks’ captain Mark Philippoussis set the tone for the hosts. Philippines’ biggest star, Serena Williams, too showed her class today and played a vital role in the win.
After today’s win, Mavericks are placed second on the points table.
In the legends category, Thomas Enquist, who replaced Marat Safin took on the inform Mavericks’ captain Philippoussis. And straightaway, the Swede shows signs of better temperament and consistency behind the baseline. That said, the Aussie found an opening and broke Enquist’s serve to gain the early advantage.
Philippoussis kept going for the lines off both flanks and managed to keep his nose in front. In the end, the Australians experience and current form in the IPTL was too good for the debutant Enquist. Once again, Mavericks’ captain led from the front with a 6-2 victory.
In the men’s singles set, Richard Gasquet started off serving first and had little issues on it. However, Philip Kohlschrieber serve came under the gun, owing to an early introduction of a power-point. That said, the German averted the danger by coming up with an exquisite volley. As expected, both men started off by exchanging some graceful, single handed backhands from the baseline.
The backhand rallies reached a new high in the fourth game as Japan’s Kohlschreiber produced some incredible, line-painting winners to break the Frenchman’s serve. The German kept hammering winners from the back and kept Gasquet under pressure at all times. In the end, it was a very convincing 6-3 victory for the Warriors.
After two sets, the score read Mavericks: 9 Warriors: 8
In the mixed doubles, the home team had a power-packed team in Milos Raonic/Serena Williams and right from ball one, Mavericks’ pair started imposing themselves on the pair of Baroni/Herbert. In the third game, Raonic/Serena broke the Warriors’ pair and held quickly for a 3-1 lead.
Raonic/Serena obtained the insurance break immediately and just when it appeared that the Mavericks’ duo was on their way to an easy victory, Baroni/Herbert broke back by using their power-point. However, Raonic held his serve in the end to complete a 6-4 win.
Up next, Serena was eagerly waiting to play Kurumi Nara in the women’s singles and was keen on avenging her defeat to the Japanese a few days ago. And, the American remained merciless from ball one and displayed some imperious tennis to dismiss the diminutive Nara.
With Serena in the lead by 3-0, Japan used their substitution and replaced Nara with Baroni. And, the Croat showed signs of fighting back as she broke Serena’s serve and narrowed the deficit 2-3. That said, Serena was determined to set the record straight and remained ruthless to pick up the win 6-3.
In the final set of the evening, Leander Peas/Herbert broke the pairing of Treat Huey/Roger Vasselin in the third game.
That said, the Philippines’ pair got back to level terms in the sixth game. All four players produced high-class tennis and got the crowd deeply involved in the contest.
The clash had all the makings of a shoot-out, but Paes/Herbert hit more winners than their opponents to break serve again towards the business end of the set. In the end, the Japan pair got a much needed consolation win 6-4.
The Japan Warriors will take a few days off now until the third leg of the tournament in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the home team will lock horns tomorrow against the Indian Aces.
