IPTL 2016| Indian Aces suffer loss before the final

12/11/2016

Indian Aces have lost the last leg of the Indian Premier Tennis League (IPTL) to UAE Royals 20-24 at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad but set up the summit clash against defending champions Singapore Slammers. The Sunday showdown will be a repeat of 2015 edition.

The tie began with the legend’s round between Mark Philippoussis and Thomas Johannson. Although, the game was expected to be a tense affair, it turned out to be a one-sided game as the former Swedish Grand Slam champion Johannson broke Philippoussis in the opening game and held on to take the advantage to win the tie 5-0 inside 24 minutes.

Kirsten Flipkens showed exemplary skills in her play and brought the Aces back in the contest by winning her Women’s single’s game 6-3 over former world number one Ana Ivanovic.

Although the crowd at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad chanted “Sania-Sania” with full voice, it couldn’t transpire into a victory for the Hyderabadi. Partnering Rohan Bopanna in the mixed-doubles encounter, Sania went down to the duo of Daniel Nestor and Ana Ivanovic in a completely lop-sided encounter that lasted only 22 minutes.

After losing the Mixed-doubles, Aces had to up the ante by winning the Men’s doubles and Bopanna-Dodig pair defeated the duo of Pablo Cuevas and Nestor 6-3 to trim down the point difference to only one point.

Ivan Dodig played the decisive rubber against Tomas Berdych in which the Czech sealed the game by breaking Dodig in the eighth game. The Men’s singles round ended with 6-3 in favour of Berdych as UAE Royals scampered home 24-20.

Indian Aces will lock horns with Singapore Slammers in the showdown today in what will be the repeat of 2015 edition.