Murray, Mavericks end IPTL Manila leg with a win
Manila Mavericks Andy Murray returns the ball during their Men’s Singles match against Nick Kyrgios at the IPTL (International Premier Tennis League) Men’s Singles match on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014 at the Mall of Asia Arena in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The IPTL, featuring four teams, introduces a new format in tennis and a chance for a championship prize of $1-million dollars. Murray won the match 6-5. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines—The Manila Mavericks avoided a winless campaign in the inaugural leg of the International Premier Tennis League Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Fueled by the home crowd, the Mavericks won all but the women’s singles against the Singapore Slammers with Andy Murray highlighting it with a thrilling victory over rising star Nick Kyrgios in the five-minute shootout.
The match also marked Murray’s first win in a singles match in three tries.
“With me personally, I haven’t won a match this week. I’ve lost a couple of close ones,” said the 2013 Wimbledon champion Murray on how important it was to get a win at home. “We all wanted to try and win to finish the weekend and I thought everyone played better.”
Murray relied on his experience and veteran smarts to outduel the 19-year-old Australian Kyrgios, who beat the likes of Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet to reach the quarterfinals of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships.
But Murray had to fight back from a 3-5 deficit to forge a shootout where he also needed to rally.
Mark Philippoussis, who was a substitute for injured Carlos Moya, got the Mavericks’ romp going with a 6-2 win over Pat Rafter in the legends singles before the pair of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and hometown hero Treat Huey edged Lleyton Hewitt and Tomas Berdych, 6-5, in the men’s doubles.
The Mavericks won their first tie, 27-19, after falling to the UAE Royals and the Indian Aces in the first two days of competition while the Slammers came up empty despite the arrival of world No. 1 Serena Williams.
Williams gave Singapore a lift with a 6-3 win over Kirsten Flipkens but she and Hewitt faltered in the mixed doubles against Murray and Flipkens, 6-1.
“It was fun,” Williams said of her match against Flipkens. “She played really well. She made it really entertaining for the crowd.”
Williams also said she will be suiting up in the Singapore leg slated on Dec. 2-4.
The IPTL will also have stops in New Delhi on Dec. 6-8 and Dubai on Dec. 11-13.
