IPTL: Aces continue their victory march

Aces’ Rohan Bopanna was fielded in the legends contest in place of a sick Fabrice Santoro and lost 0-6 against James Blake on Tuesday night. But they bounced back with a 6-4 win when Agnieszka Radwanska beat Ajla Tomljanovic in the women’s singles contest.

Agnieszka Radwanska overcame Ajla Tomljanovic in the women's singles.

Title-holders Indian Aces pipped Philippine Mavericks 24-23 in an International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) tie here at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

Aces’ Rohan Bopanna was fielded in the legends contest in place of a sick Fabrice Santoro and lost 0-6 against James Blake on Tuesday night.

But Aces bounced back with a 6-4 win when Agnieszka Radwanska beat Ajla Tomljanovic in the women’s singles contest.

Aces’ mixed doubles pairing of Sania Mirza-Bopanna reduced the margin further when they got the better of Jarmila Gajdosova-Edouard Roger-Vasselin, winning the set 6-4.

The end of the set saw a heavy downpour and the match was stopped temporarily.

Bopanna-Ivan Dodig then walked to the court, raring to go and took the set narrowly 6-5 against Roger-Vasselin-Treat Huey in the men’s doubles contest for the Aces.

In the men’s singles contest, Aces’ Bernard Tomic survived nine powerful aces from the big-serving and towering Karlovic, to win the set 6-4 and closing the match in favour of his team.