IPTL Manila: Serena powers PH Mavericks to 3rd straight win

Serena Williams exchanges high fives with one of her teammates during the Philippine Mavericks’ match against the Japan Warriors in the 2015 IPTL Manila leg on Monday night at Mall of Asia Arena. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Serena Williams dazzled anew and the Philippine Mavericks rolled to their third straight win after keeping the Japan Warriors winless, 25-21, in the 2015 IPTL Manila leg Monday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

Williams, the women’s world No.1, chalked up a couple of victories in mixed doubles and women’s singles to boost the Mavericks’ third win in four games and the second one over the Warriors.

The Mavericks, who also defeated the Warriors in the first leg in Japan, dispute the top spot with the defending champions Indian Aces on Tuesday night in the tournament’s final day in Manila before flying to New Delhi for the third leg.

Mark Philippoussis had the Mavericks off to a good start with a 6-2 victory over Thomas Enqvist in the legend’s singles. Richard Gasquet dropped a 3-6 decision to Phillip Kohlschreiber in men’s singles, but Milos Raonic and Williams quickly got the home team back on track by nipping Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-4, in mixed doubles.

Williams has been having quite a time playing for the Mavericks, and so are the Filipinos who cheered for every point she scored and expressed disappointment for the ones she yielded.

Filipinos come to see Williams and the 21-time Grand Slam winner makes sure to put on a show every time she plays.

“I love playing for the Mavericks. I’m a Maverick and I’m proud,” said the 34-year-old Williams during one of the intervals, prompting a roar from the crowd, which grew thin following her 6-3 conquest in women’s singles.

The Mavericks won despite losing in the final set where Fil-American Treat Huey and Edouard Roger-Vasselin bowed to Leander Paes and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 4-6, in men’s doubles.