IPTL 2016 | Hingis gets the better of Mirza as Indian Aces stumble to first loss

12/04/2016

UAE Royals won 30-20 against Indian Aces at the Saitama Super Arena to go to the top of the points table in the IPTL. After winning her singles game against Kirsten Flipkens, Martina Hingis paired up with Pablo Cuevas to defeat Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 6-4 in the mixed doubles clash.

Thomas Johansson and Mark Philippoussis faced off in the legends’ tie, and it was the former Swedish great who came out on top 6-3. Johansson broke Philippoussis’ service game thrice in the match and hit 13 winners compared to his opponents’ 9.

The UAE Royals extended their lead with the help of Martina Hingis who defeated Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 in a closely fought singles tie. There were a total of 5 service breaks in the set, but Hingis’ dominance at the nets gave her the edge over her opponent. The former World no.1 won 5 points at the net with a 100% success rate.

The Swiss then paired up with Pablo Cuevas to take on her former doubles partner Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles game. Although the Indian pair managed to hit more aces and winners in the set, it was their unforced errors which saw them lose the match 4-6.

With the match on the line, Tomas Berdych and Feliciano Lopez faced each other, and it was the 31-year-old who dominated the match. Lopez had no answers for Berdych’s serves as the Czech player racked up 6 aces and 17 blistering winners. Berdych won the match comfortably at 6-3 to give UAE Royals an unassailable lead in the game at 24-14. Bopanna and Lopez won the final game against Cuevas and Daniel Nestor in a tie-break, but it was too little too late.

UAE Royals 30-20 Indian Aces

Thomas Johansson 6-3 Mark Philippoussis

Martina Hingis 6-4 Kirsten Flipkens

Cuevas/ Hingis 6-4 Bopanna/ Mirza

Tomas Berdych 6-3 Feliciano Lopez

Cuevas/ Nestor 6-6 Bopanna Lopez