Hyderabad: Indian Aces maintained their lead at the top of the International Premier Tennis League, winning their first two matches to take a stranglehold on the tie against Singapore Slammers at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Friday.
The hosts were least hospitable as they served up curry hot enough to scorch the Slammers on a nippy night. Ivan Dodig and Feliciano Lopez gave the home side a rousing start with a 6-2 demolition of Marcos Baghdatis and Marcelo Melo in the men’s doubles.
A little later, Lopez humiliated the erratic Nick Kyrgios 6-0 as the Aces took a massive 12-2 lead. Kiki Bertens then pulled some points back for the Slammers with a 6-2 win over Kirsten Flipkens but at 14-8, the Aces were sitting pretty with the legends singles and mixed doubles still left to be played.
Earlier, Japan Warriors pulled the rug from under the UAE Royals’ feet to make an emphatic start to the last leg of the IPTL. The Samurais won 25-20 to push the Royals to the brink while placing themselves in firm contention for the second spot alongside Singapore Slammers.
The finalists will be decided after Saturday’s matches — Slammers vs Warriors and Aces vs Royals.
Marat Safin got the Warriors off to a flying start with a dominant 6-3 victory over Goran Ivanisevic in the legends singles. Next up was Kurumi Nara , who raced to a 6-1 win over Ana Ivanovic of UAE.
She continued her good form into the mixed doubles alongside Daniel Nestor to give the Dutch-Serbian pair of Jean-Julian Rojer and Jelena Jankovic a tremendous fight before succumbing 6-5 (7/5). In the men’s doubles, Rojer alongwith Fernando Verdasco blew away the challenge of Tomas Berdych and Pablo Cuevas 6-0.
