Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines—Not even her inspiring rally could give the Manila Mavericks their first home win in the International Premier Tennis League.
Maria Sharapova came from behind against Kristina Mladenovic but her blistering rally was not enough as the Mavericks fell to the UAE Royals 29-24 in the first day of the first leg of the IPTL inside the Mall of Asia Arena Friday evening.
Manila Mavericks team. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
Down two sets to five, Sharapova rallied to the shootout round to beat Mladenovic 7-3 and clinch the first victorioust set for the Mavericks.
“I didn’t want to lose my first singles match here in Manila,” Sharapova said. “You are quite the fans.”
Closing on popping Mladenovic’s bubble in the ninth, Sharapova just needed the right spot to get back in the competition with a 5-4 disadvantage.
With the total scores at 23-18, defending Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray needed to keep defending US Champion Marin Cilic to just one set, that however, would not come to fruition.
Murray looked to have the momentum as he had his offensive game on in the first set but Cilic’s on-point service game in the second set took the wind out of the British offense.
Even with the victorious shootout, 9-4, and a 6-5 match, Murray could not salvage a win for the homefront.
Royals’ legend Goran Ivanisevic said that what the new format brings is a lot of fun for the competitors.
“It was fun to play, the crowd is hungry for tennis,” Ivanisevic said. “We want to play especially the old guys.”
Playing against a fellow Grand Slam champion, Murray said that it was all competition but it’s still a lot of fun.
“It was fun playing against him,” Murray said adding that playing in a team-based atmosphere is a much needed break from the regular grind of the traditional tennis.
In the first match, Ivanisevic upended Carlos Moya 6-5 while playing to the tune if the crowd’s cheers.
Nenad Zimonjic and Cilic’s duo then got the better of Mavericks Filipino-American coach Treat Huey and French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4.
And the duo of Mladenovic and Zimonjic took down the combined star power of Murray and Sharapova, 6-4.
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