IPTL Match 5 Review: UAE Royals vs Indian Aces

UAE Royals 30-20 Indian Aces

Thomas Johansson 6-3 Mark Philippoussis
Martina Hingis 6-4 Kirsten Flipkens
Pablo Cuevas/Martina Hingis 6-4 Rohan Bopanna/Sania Mirza
Tomas Berdych 6-3 Feliciano Lopez
Pablo Cuevas/Daniel Nestor 6-6 Rohan Bopanna/Feliciano Lopez

Photo by IPTL

Set 1 (Legend’s Singles): Johansson 6-3 Philippoussis

Johansson had the perfect start on his debut, breaking Philippoussis’ strong serve immediately at the start of the game. At 4-2, he showed world-class defensive skills when he won the Coca-Cola powerpoint at 40-30, allowing himself to have a double break lead and a chance to serve out a perfect start for the Royals. This time, it was Philippoussis who won the Coca-Cola powerpoint, which was crucial as he soon broke Johansson’s serve to clinch 1 more game for the Aces. There was a 3^rd straight break when Johansson once again showed unbelievable defensive skills at set point to take the set 6-3 and clinch a perfect start for the Royals.

Set 2 (Women’s Singles): Hingis 6-4 Flipkens

Flipkens started the set brightly, breaking Hingis’ serve at the start of the set. However, Hingis broke back immediately with the help of a Coca-Cola powerpoint. Hingis was the one who managed to break serve first after that, in the 8^th game where she was able to win it due to Flipkens consistently making errors. With Hingis serving for the set, Flipkens played her best game to break back immediately and make the set on serve again. Nevertheless, Hingis then broke for the final time to seal up the set 6-4 for the Royals and break Flipkens’ unbeaten streak.

Set 3: (Mixed Doubles): Cuevas/Hingis 6-4 Bopanna/Mirza

An intelligent use of the Coca-Cola powerpoint at 1-1 allowed Cuevas and Hingis to make the first breakthrough by breaking serve and have the advantage in their hands. The UAE Royals continued strolling through the tie as they broke once again to lead 5-2, and be just a game away from an 18-9 lead. Some superb returns and serving from Bopanna then allowed them to lessen the deficit to just 1 game, but Cuevas maintained his composure to serve the set out 6-4, and extend the Royals’ lead.

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

A double fault by Lopez on deciding point allowed Berdych to draw first blood and have a 3-1 lead in the set, and was almost certain of the win overall. That double fault was crucial as there were no more breaks in the set, and therefore, Berdych served out the set 6-3.

Set 5 (Men’s Doubles): Cuevas/Nestor 6-6 Bopanna/Lopez

Both pairs looked very solid on serve, with all 4 of them not losing a single of their service games during the set. Therefore, the set proceeded to a tiebreak to decide its winner. Bopanna and Lopez whitewashed Cuevas and Nestor in the tiebreak by winning it by 7-0, and also clinching a point for themselves in the process as they won 20 games in the tie. With the set progressing into overtime, Nestor sealed the set and the tie for the UAE Royals as soon as possible as he held his serve to love to clinch it for the Royals.