IPTL Match 2 Review: Japan Warriors vs Indian Aces

Japan Warriors 17-30 Indian Aces

Kurumi Nara 2-6 Kirsten Flipkens
Jelena Jankovic/Jean-Julien Rojer 5-6 Rohan Bopanna/Sania Mirza
Marat Safin 3-6 Mark Philippoussis
Fernando Verdasco/Jean-Julien Roger 2-6 Ivan Dodig/Feliciano Lopez
Fernando Verdasco 5-6 Feliciano Lopez

Credits: IPTL

Set 1 (Women’s Singles): Nara 2-6 Flipkens

The first set of the match was the Women’s Singles set, contested by Kurumi Nara the home favourite and Kirsten Flipkens, a last-minute replacement for Eugenie Bouchard. Both players are familiar with the format as they have played in the previous year, and Nara broke serve immediately in the first game of the match. She led 40-0 in her opening service game, but Flipkens then went on a great run after, winning 4 games in a row to lead 4-1 within just a blink of an eye. Nara stopped the rout by holding her serve despite some great returns made by Flipkens and lessened the deficit by 1 game. However, Flipkens was still able to successfully serve out the set 6-2 and give the Indian Aces a great start to the match.

Set 2 (Mixed Doubles): Rojer/Jankovic 5-6 Mirza/Bopanna

The all Indian pairing of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna went against former World No.1 Jelena Jankovic and doubles specialist Jean-Julien Rojer in the 2^nd set of the tie, with Mirza and Bopanna being the obvious favourites here as they are both doubles specialist and achieved a lot of the doubles court. Jankovic and Rojer almost made the first breakthrough at 3-2 but failed to take advantage on 2 double faults by Bopanna to let the Indian pairing hold serve and remain on serve. This set eventually went to a 13 point tiebreaker, the first tiebreaker of today. Mirza and Bopanna ran out to a 5-3 lead in the tiebreak, and they eventually closed out the tiebreak 7-5.

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

Former ATP Top 10 players Marat Safin and Mark Philippoussis faced off in the Legend’s Singles set, with both players being familiar with the rules as both participated in the past versions. Philippoussis made the first breakthrough when he held his serve and broke Safin’s serve to have a perfect start to the match and lead 2-0. That sole break of serve proved crucial as there were no more breaks of serve in the set, and that break allowed Philippoussis to take the set 6-3 and extend the Indian Aces’ lead to 18-10.

Set 4 (Men’s Doubles): Verdasco/Rojer 2-6 Dodig/Lopez

Once again, in the Men Doubles, the Indian Aces’ pair would be the favourite as both Dodig and Lopez have won Grand Slam in doubles, but the Japan Warriors’ pair aren’t lacking behind by too much, with Rojer winning Wimbledon previously and Verdasco winning the ATP World Tour Finals in Doubles before. Dodig and Lopez made the first breakthrough, breaking Rojer’s serve at 2-2 to take the lead and be on course for yet another victory. There was yet another break of service when Dodig and Lopez managed to convert on their Coca-Cola powerpoint, which allowed them to have a 5-2 lead. The set was then won by Dodig and Lopez after they served it out successfully and when Verdasco hit a backhand into the back of Rojer’s head.

Set 5 (Men’s Singles): Verdasco 5-6 Lopez

The final set saw 2 players from Spain facing off against each other to decide the winner, with the Indian Aces entering the final set with a 24-12 lead. Verdasco started the set the best way possible, by breaking Lopez’s serve in the first game of the set. He then managed to consolidate his break by holding his serve for a 2-0 lead. Lopez then broke back to level the match at 2-2, keeping Indian Aces’ hopes of winning every set alive. Verdasco then saved 3 break points at 3-4 to hold for 4-4 and prevent Lopez from taking a 5-3 lead. He then broke Lopez’s serve to have a chance to send the match into overtime. Lopez then broke back once again to send the set into a tiebreak. Lopez quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead and did not disappoint when he successfully served out the set 6-5 and won the match 30-17 for Indian Aces.