IPTL Match 1 Review: Singapore Slammers vs UAE Royals

UAE Royals 29-19 Singapore Slammers

Goran Ivanisevic 6-3 Rainer Schuettler (Carlos Moya substituted in at 4-2)
Martina Hingis 6-1 Kiki Bertens
Tomas Berdych 6-4 Nick Kyrgios
Pablo Cuevas/Daniel Nestor 6-3 Marcelo Melo/Marcos Baghdatis
Martina Hingis/Daniel Nestor 5-8 Kiki Bertens/Marcelo Melo

Credits to IPTL

Set 1 (Legend’s Singles): Ivanisevic 6-3 Schuettler/Moya

The first set to start the 2016 IPTL was contested by former ATP Top 10 players in Rainer Schuettler, who is representing the Singapore Slammers team, and Goran Ivanisevic, who is representing the UAE Royals team. It was Ivanisevic’s 3^rd straight time participating in the IPTL, having participated in all the editions of the IPTL. Whereas, for Schuettler, it is his first time participating in this tournament which rules varies with those on the professional tour. Schuettler had break point at 40-30 in the 3^rd game after their team called a Coca-Cola powerpoint for him, which counts as 2 points for the receiving player. However, he failed to capitalise on it after Ivanisevic hit a strong serve in. The IPTL Format is similar to Doubles on the professional tour, where there would be a deciding point at 40-40 instead of having the advantage score. Ivanisevic then made the first breakthrough on his Coca-Cola powerpoint which allowed him to break Schuettler’s serve to lead 3-1. There was a substitution at 4-2 when the Singapore Slammers team decided to bring Carlos Moya in to try and minimize the deficit. The substitution proved successful as Moya earned 2 break points immediately after he went into the game. Nevertheless, Ivanisevic’s serve and powerful forehands saved him once again. Moya then won his first game of the day when he held his serve to love comfortably. Ivanisevic then closed out the first set 6-3 with an ace to give UAE Royals the lead.

Set 2 (Women’s Singles): Hingis 6-1 Bertens

Next up was a match between 2 debutants in the IPTL, with former World No.1 Martina Hingis returning to play singles (!) against the surprise player of the year Kiki Bertens in the Women’s Singles. Surprisingly, it was Hingis who made a bright start as she immediately broke Bertens’ powerful serve in the first game of the set to extend the Royals’ lead to 7-3 after she won the deciding point. Hingis’ service game also went to deciding point, which was won by Hingis once again. Hingis then went on a double break lead when Bertens hit a double fault and lost yet another deciding point. Bertens got 1 break back when she broke to 30 to finally win her 1^st game of the contest and lessen the deficit by 1 game. Bertens’ service woes continued when she lost another service game which saw her hit her 7^th double fault of the day. Hingis then hit her 1^st ace of the day to lead 5-1 and be a game away from closing out the set. Thanks to 3 unforced errors from Bertens and yet another double fault, Bertens lost yet another service game and the set 6-1 despite looking strong at the start. With this 6-1 win, UAE Royals leads by 12-4.

Set 3 (Men’s Singles): Berdych 6-4 Kyrgios

The Men’s singles match was between 2 players who had both played in the IPTL in the previous years, Nick Kyrgios (Singapore) and Tomas Berdych (UAE). Both players started the set with very comfortable holds, with Kyrgios holding his serve in just 50 seconds. The first opportunity to break serve came at 3-2 when Kyrgios was serving at 40-30 and Berdych called a Coca-Cola powerpoint, which meant it was a break point opportunity. Kyrgios then saved it with a glorious dropshot that left Berdych shocked behind the baseline. Kyrgios’ service game at 4-3 just lasted 47 seconds, the fastest game of the day so far. However, Berdych managed to clinch the set at the last moment when he broke Kyrgios’ serve when he was serving to stay in the set.

Set 4 (Men’s Doubles): Nestor/Cuevas 6-4 Melo/Baghdatis

The men doubles was contested by Marcos Baghdatis/Marcelo Melo (Singapore) up against Daniel Nestor/Pablo Cuevas (UAE). The first break came in the 3^rd game where debutant Baghdatis failed to hit the ball while serving after tossing the ball up, as the rule states that there is no chance for a second toss per serve. This allowed UAE Royals to take early lead. The Singapore Slammers’ pair was unable to break back in the set, and therefore UAE Royals won the set 6-3 to remain unbeaten and extend their lead to 24-11.

Set 5 (Mixed Doubles): Nestor/Hingis 5-8 Melo/Bertens

All 4 players playing the Mixed Doubles set has already played 1 previous set in the tie, with Melo playing against Nestor in the Men’s doubles and Hingis playing Bertens in the singles. The Singapore Slammers’ pair started the match brightly, coming from 40-15 down to break Nestor’s serve after Bertens hit an amazing lob on break point. Hingis and Nestor then broke back immediately when he hit an inch-perfect return winner on deciding point to level the set. Melo and Bertens then broke Hingis’ serve at 3-3 with some amazing returns and good net play to lead 4-3. Melo and Bertens then almost broke once again at 5-3, but Nestor came up with some strong serves to hold his service game. Melo then held her serve to take the set into overtime, which means that the match would continue until Hingis and Nestor wins 1 more game or Singapore Slammers level the match. Hingis lost her serve in the 1^st game of overtime to give Singapore Slammers the lead of 7-4 in the final set, which would continue until Hingis and Nestor wins a game. After Bertens held her serve, Nestor managed to hold his serve to seal the match for UAE Royals 29-19.