Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines—After her team fell a tad short of time, Ana Ivanovic demonstrated her class, putting the Micromax Indian Aces in the driver’s seat against the pedestrian Singapore Slammers, 26-16, in the opening series of the International Premier Tennis League at the Mall of Asia Arena Friday evening.
Facing Daniela Hantuchova, with her team behind 15-14, the World No. 5 outclassed her opponent with a 6-0 drubbing that ultimately tilted the scales in favor of the Aces.
Former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic meets the press at the Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
“I’m really happy to be part of the team, it’s a great team,” Ivanovic said after the game. “We travel together, we interact with each other.”
In the IPTL format, a won set earns a team one point; whichever team accumulates the most points wins the series.
Each series has five matches in it.
A beautiful drop shot from Ivanovic ended a tightly contested rally in the fourth set and gave her a 4-0 lead over Hantuchova.
Even with the seemingly easy win over Hantuchova, Ivanovic said she didn’t know what to expect from the IPTL format.
“I didn’t know what to expect, it’s my first time in this format,” Ivanovic said. “It takes time getting used to.”
Riding the momentum that Ivanovic built, Gael Monfils also made quick work of Lleyton Hewitt, 6-1, to clinch the final score.
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna set the pace for the Aces with a 6-4 start over the duo Hantuchova and Bruno Soares in the mixed doubles then Fabrice Santoro upended US Open winner Pat Rafter in a 7-5 shootout to clinch the set at 6-5.
The duo of Nick Kyrgios and Berdych was the only victorious part of the Slammers rotation, with a 6-4 win against Monfils and Bopanna.