IPTL 2016 | Indian Aces rally to second consecutive win in the tournament
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Indian Aces edged past defending champions Singapore Slammers 26-25 in their second game in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in Tokyo on Saturday. With the scores level at 2-2 after four matches, Kirsten Flipkens defeated Kiki Bertens to hand Indian Aces their second consecutive win.
In the Legend’s tennis match, former world number one Carlos Moya, playing for OUE Singapore Slammers, beat Thomas Enqvist of Indian Aces 6-4, but Feliciano LĂłpez leveled the match for the Indian side with a 6-4 victory over Marcos Baghdatis in the Men’s Singles encounter.Â
The third match was a Men’s doubles match in which Slammers pair of Nick Kyrgios and Marcelo Melo showed a spectacular display of volleying skills and big-time tennis to beat Ivan Dodig and Feliciano Lopez 6-4.Â
Indian mixed-doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna carried on with their great form from the opening day and leveled the game for the Aces with a 6-4 win over Marcelo Melo and Kiki Bertens.Â
Belgian ace Kirsten Flipkens had to win the decisive rubber to exact revenge for the Aces' last year final defeat to Slammers, and she did it in grand style. In a nail-biter of a game, Kiki Bertens forced the game to a Super Shoot-Out, but Kirsten held her nerves to win the super-shoot-out to hand the Indian team its second consecutive victory of the tournament.
"It was really nice to get the win for the team. It was a really tough match, a really tough deciding set," said Kirsten, in the post-match press conference.
Former world Number one Carlos Moya expressed his happiness at playing the game after a long time.Â
The Spaniard said, "I like the different rules and the team environment. Big stadiums still give me the chills and the adrenaline that I missed after I retired. For me is a pleasure to be here. Nishikori, Raonic, Kyrgios, Zverev, Thiem… Those five names are the ones that will probably be the next first time Grand Slam winners."Â
In another match of the day, hosts Japan Warriors, who lost to Indian aces in the opening encounter, beat UAE Royals 23-20.
