Coca-Cola IPTL: Singapore Slammers beat UAE Royals 27-25

Tomas Berdych attempts a backhand return during his win over Marin Cilic in the Coca-Cola IPTL

It was the last match of the Singapore leg of the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League, and the atmosphere was appropriately feverish. The home team Singapore Slammers took on UAE Royals in the 12th match of the tournament, looking to register just their second win of the ‘Happiness Open’. And they managed to do just that, outlasting the Royals after a close battle.

Here is how it all panned out.

Women’s singles

Caroline Wozniacki made her debut in the Coca-Cola IPTL as she faced Serena Williams in the first set of the match. It didn’t look like the Dane had been away from the tennis court for quite a while, as she broke the World No. 1’s serve in the very first game. She then held her serve without much trouble to go 2-0 up.

However, Williams struck right back to level things at 2-2 with some brutal forehands. Wozniacki broke again later in the set, but could not serve it out when she was leading 5-4. They then went to a shootout and the American took it 6-5 in the dying seconds of with an overhead smash.

Result: Williams beat Wozniacki 6-5 (6-5).

Mixed doubles

It was a new pairing for the Slammers with Tomas Berdych partnering Williams for the set. On the other side of the net, Kristina Mladenovic, who has had an impressive tournament so far, teamed up with Nenad Zimonjic for the Royals.

Williams struggled on her serve in the third game where she served two double faults, giving the Royals 2-1 lead. But the Slammers broke back in the eighth game to level the scores at 4-4 as Mladenovic failed to get enough first serves in.

Berdych held his serve quite comfortably in the ninth game to take his team 5-4 up. Zimonjic was under pressure serving to stay in the set, and he served two double faults to hand the set to the Slammers.

Result: Williams/Berdych beat Mladenovic/Zimonjic 6-4.

Legends’ singles

Goran Ivanisevic faced Aussie Pat Rafter in the third set of the evening, for yet another rematch of their epic 2001 Wimbledon final. The Croat returned brilliantly in the early going, and put the Australian’s serve under immense pressure to break twice and take a 4-1 lead.

Rafter saved four break points at 0-40 down in the seventh game to stay in the hunt, but Ivanisevic was too good for the Australian as he took the set without much trouble in the 10th game.

Result: Ivanisevic beat Rafter 6-4.

Men’s singles

Marin Cilic took on Berdych in the fourth set, with things very close between the two sides; the Royals were trailing 15-16 going into this set. Both players did not give many chances on their serve. But when it came to deciding points (at deuce), Berdych won both of them. The Czech had a 48% first serve percentage, but converted his opportunities when it mattered the most.

It was Berdych who lead 5-4 after the ninth game. Cilic was under pressure in the next game and Berdych made full use of it by hitting some terrific returns to take the set.

Result: Berdych beat Cilic 6-4.

Men’s doubles

Two Aussies – Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios – took on Cilic and Zimonjic in the final set of the day. The Slammers got off to a horrible start after Kyrgios’ serve was broken in the very first game. Cilic then held his serve to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Croat’s serve was broken in the sixth game to even things at 3-3.

It was the Royals who broke Kyrgios’ serve again in the ninth game to lead 5-4. Cilic then served out the set 6-4.

Result: Zimonjic/Cilic beat Hewitt/Kyrgios 6-4.

The Royals trailed 25-26 at the end of five sets. By virtue of winning the last game, though, the match was still on. The Royals had to break Hewitt’s serve the next game to take the match to a Super shootout. However, the experienced Aussie held his serve to love to take the match 27-25 for the Slammers.

The Slammers won two games in front of their home crowd after losing their first three games in Manila.