Ana steers Royals back in the fight

Serbian beauty Ana Ivanovic finally struck for the UAE Royals yesterday, surviving Karolina Pliskova of the Singapore Slammers, 6-5, and re-igniting the Royals’ bid in the International Premier Tennis League.

Ivanovic delighted the crowd with some wonderful shots to score her first singles victory in the IPTL Manila leg at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Royals will head to New Delhi for the third leg with 26-23 win. It was their first in three days in Manila.

“We’re back in the fight. It’s great to finish with a win here in Manila,” said Tomas Berdych who capped the day for the Royals by winning the men’s singles over Nick Kyrgios, 6-4.

The 28-year-old Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion, wanted to leave Manila with a win after losses to Serena Williams of the Philippine Mavericks and Samantha Stosur of the Indian Aces the past two days.

Ivanovic ran hard chasing shots. In the ninth game, she missed crashing into one of the linesmen by an inch. She won the game for a 5-3 advantage over her opponent from the Czech Republic.

Pliskova, ranked No. 11 in the world, forced a seven-point shootout but trailed early on, 6-3. Ivanovic won the final point of the match with a well-struck forehand.

At centercourt, she said it was a must for her to win.

“Yes, definitely because I thought I started well yesterday (against Stosur) but things went downhill,” said Ivanovic of her 6-3 defeat to Stosur.

“I’m very happy I finished strong today. I’m happy to get the first victory today. It’s tough. I just had to stay composed,” she said.

It was clear that the fans were for Ivanovic even if they applauded some points for the 23-year-old Pliskova, who someday may become a Grand Slam champion.

“There were moments when the match could have gone either way. It’s important to win every match,” said Ivanovic, waving to the crowd like a beauty queen. “The crowd was amazing,” she said. Quickly following in Ivanovic’s footsteps was her seasoned teammate, Goran Ivanisevic who won the legends singles at the expense of Carlos Moya, 6-4.

Then Daniel Nestor and Kristina Mladenovic turned down Kyrgios and Belinda Bencic, 6-4, for the Royals third victory for the day.

The UAE Royals, pre-tournament favorites this year, were unsuccessful in their first two days in Manila, losing to the Philippine Mavericks, 2918, and the Indian Aces, 30-18.

“It’s great to win in front of this beautiful crowd,” said Ivanisevic, the colorful Croatian and Wimbledon champion in 2001.

Marcelo Melo and Nick Kyrgios delivered for the Slammers when they outplayed Berdych and Nestor in men’s doubles, 6-4.

That narrowed the gap for the day with the Royals leading, 20-19, heading to the men’s singles between Berdych and Kyrgios.

Berdych won a thrilling battle against the power-serving Kyrgios, and for a time it looked like the Slammers were capable of turning things around. But Berdych wouldn’t allow it.

Berdych sealed it for the Royals with a drop shot off the backhand. The Royals celebrated the point by forming a tight circle and jumping up and down the court.

“It was good fun. I hope you guys likes it,” said the No. 5 player in the world.