Coca-Cola IPTL: Indian Aces vs UAE Royals preview

Roger Federer’s clash with Novak Djokovic promises to be a cracker

In the second match of the day, the Indian Aces will take on the UAE Royals. The Aces have been the best team of the Coca-Cola IPTL so far, having won six out of the eight games that they have played thus far. The Royals, on the other hand, have had a topsy-turvy run, having won four and lost four out of their eight matches.

The Aces are on course to win the ‘Happiness Open’. But can the Royals beat them in their own backyard and claim their spot in the race?

Men’s singles

Without any doubt, this is the marquee clash of the day. Roger Federer, representing the Aces, will take on World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the men's singles set.

The Swiss ace had a great start to his IPTL campaign on Sunday, winning all three sets that he was part of. While Djokovic lost the solitary set that he played on Sunday, one can expect him to put his best foot forward when he faces Federer on Monday.

Women's singles

Ana Ivanovic will take on fellow former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the women's singles set. The Serb is coming off a win over Daniela Hantuchova while Wozniacki impressed in her last encounter against Kirsten Flipkens.

This will be their first encounter in the Coca-Cola IPTL, and will likely be a very closely fought set.

Men's doubles

Roger Federer will once again be in action in the men's doubles with Rohan Bopanna, and the duo will take on Nenad Zimonjic and either Marin Cilic or Novak Djokovic.

Federer and Bopanna comprehensively beat the Australian duo of Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios on Sunday, while Zimonjic partnered Djokovic in the doubles encounter on Sunday and lost 6-5 against the Mavericks. The Serbs could team up again today, and the set promises plenty of entertainment if the World No. 1 and World No. 2 feature in it.

Mixed doubles

Caroline Wozniacki and Nenad Zimonjic will take on Roger Federer and Sania Mirza in the mixed-doubles clash. The Aces pair hammered the Slammers pair of Bruno Sores and Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 on Sunday and look in great form heading into Monday’s set.

Having partnered Kristina Mladenovic in all the previous matches, Zimonjic will have a new partner for this game in the former World No. 1, and the pair will be looking to create an upset over the Indo-Swiss pair.

Legends’ singles

It will be a match-up of former Wimbledon champions on Monday with Pete Sampras taking on Goran Ivanisevic in the legends’ singles set. Both of them are coming on the back of losses, with Sampras losing 6-2 to Pat Rafter and Ivanisevic losing to Mark Phillopoussis 6-3.

Sampras will have shrugged off his jet-lag by now and heads into the match of the big-serving giants as the favourite. But Ivanisevic will have revenge on his mind, having frequently come up short against the American when they faced each other during their prime.