Delhi down Punjab’s Marshalls
Delhi Dreams sent temperatures soaring on a chilly Monday evening, with a 25- 19 ( 6- 1, 3- 6, 6- 5, 4- 6, 6- 1) win over Punjab Marshalls in the opening clash of the inaugural Champions Tennis League at the DLTA courts here. Each match was a one- set affair, with the team pocketing more games being declared the winners.
It wasn’t tennis at its highest and even the halffilled spectator gallery suggested fans are yet to take to the new league, but there was still plenty for the 2,000 plus crowd to take home on an eventful evening.
Delhi captain and former world no. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero set the tone, with a 6- 1 pounding of 41- year old Greg Rusedski of Punjab in the legends’ encounter that lasted just 20 minutes. Though both appeared short on fitness, Ferrero used his experience to the optimum. Rusedksi, who now works a TV analyst, could only smile at the manner he was beaten — it was a strange reminder of what age can do and reflected clearly on his face.
He took the defeat with grace even applauding his opponent at several points during the game.
Punjab’s Leander Paes and Garbine Muguruza then combined to pull off a 6- 3 win over Jelena Jankovic and Kevin Anderson of Delhi in the mixed doubles encounter, to set it up nicely.
The women’s singles that followed was in sharp con- trast. The 21- year old Muguruza oozed confidence and clever stroke play in equal measure, while Jankovic drew on all her experience as both went for the kill. It took a tie- breaker to separate the duo, with Jankovic putting Delhi ahead with a 6- 5 ( 3) verdict.
It was at this stage that Paes and Somdev Devvarman used their knowledge of the home conditions to defeat the pair of Kevin Anderson and Sanam Singh, posting a 6- 4 win in the men’s doubles. It brought Punjab back, with the overall scores now showing Delhi ahead 19- 18.
It needed a disciplined effort from Devvarman in the men’s singles, but Delhi’s Anderson stole the show with a dominant 6- 1 victory, handing Delhi full points. On Tuesday, Delhi take on Mumbai Masters.
MARK RALLIES TO WIN
FIRST MATCH
In late action, Hyderabad Aces’ marquee player Mark Philippoussis, showed what it takes to be at the top level as he came back from 2- 5 to win the first match 6- 5 ( 5- 2) in a tiebreak against Thomas Enqvist and helped his team go 1- 0 up against the Bangalore Raptors in Hyderabad on Monday.
However, Bangalore hit back to level the match 1- 1 after their mixed doubles pair of Venus Williams and Feliciano Lopez defeated Martina Hingis and Mikail Youzhny 6- 5 ( 51).
Philippoussis saved his best for the last as he drew first blood for the hosts in a thrilling tie setter. Enqvist served first and leveled it 1- 1.
Philippoussis served his first ace of the match and held serve to go 3- 1 up in the tie- breaker. As Enqvist served next, he was able to take the first point while Mark took the second and the scoreline read 4- 2 in Philippoussis’ favour before he served out the match.