Mavericks lean on Tsonga, down Slammers

The Manila Mavericks bared their best form during the last day of the Indian leg of the IPTL event, tripping the Singapore Slammers, 23-17, in New Delhi on Monday.

French ace Jo-Wilfred Tsonga won twice in the men’s singles, whipping Tomas Berdych and Nick Kyrgios in succession to hand the Manila Mavericks an easy 6-2 win.

The Mavericks’ pair of Kirsten Flipkens and Daniel Nestor, however, yielded to the Slammers’ Daniela Hantuchova and Kyrgios, 3-6, in the mixed doubles.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer played to a 6-6 stalemate in their one-set match. Djokovic’s UAE Royals, however,  bested Federer’s Indian Aces, 29-22.

“I have  to  give  it  to  the  team,  they  are  really  working  hard  every  game  and their  efforts   are  paying  off,” said  team  manager  Jean  Henri  Lhuilllier, long-time patron  of  Philippine tennis. “I  am  certainly  proud  of  the  Manila  Mavericks.”

Hantuchova continued her dominance over Flipkens in the women’s singles with a 6-2 triumph.

The Mavericks’ Tsonga and Nestor then routed the of Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt and Kyrgios, 6-0.

In the legends singles, Mark Philippoussis posted his seventh straight win at the expense of Patrick Rafter, 6-3.

With two lopsided wins the past two days, the Mavericks gained second place in the “Happiness Open.”