Muling pinasaya ng Philippine Mavericks ang nagdagsaang home crowd habang ginulantang ni 14-time Grandslam champion Rafael Nadal ang torneo matapos tulungan ang Micromax Indian Aces sa pagtulak sa panalo kontra Obi UAE Royals sa ginaganap na International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) sa Mall of Asia Arena.
Ilang minutong binigyan ng palakpakan ng mga manonood si Nadal sa pagpasok nito sa loob ng playing court bago nagkasiyahan sa pagbibigay suporta sa tennis superstar sa pagtulak sa Indian sa 30-18 panalo kontra Royals.
Ikinasiya naman ng mga fans ang huling laro kamakalawa ng gabi nang biguin ng host Philippine Mavericks ang nakatapat na Legendari Japan Warriors bagaman hindi nakalaro si Marat Safin matapos magtala ng calf ligament.
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Pumalit kay Safin si Thomas Enqvist.
Agad nagwagi ang Mavericks sa unang set na Men’s Legend’s Singles bago itinabla ng Warriors sa ikalawang set para sa Men’s Singles. Nagawang magwagi ng home team sa Mixed Doubles at Women’s Singles bago nagwagi ang Warriors sa huling set. Nagwagi ang Mavericks, 25-21, sa labanan kontra Warriors.
Unang nagwagi si Mark Philippoussis, 6-2, kontra kay Thomas Enqvist sa unang pagkakataon nitong naglaro sa torneo.
Wagi naman kay Richard Gasquet, 3-6, si Philip Kohlschreiber.
Magkasunod na nagwagi sa mixed doubles sina Williams/Raonic, 6-4, kontra kina Lucic/Herbert bago sinundan sa women’s singles ni Serena Williams, 6-3, na nagwagi kay Kurumi Nara. Ang men’s doubles ni Roger-Vasselin/Huey ay nabigo, 4-6, kontra kina Paes/Herbert.
“It’s a lot of fun playing mixed doubles, I’ve played it a couple of times earlier, and when you have one of the greatest women’s player of all time as your partner, it just makes it easier on myself!,” sabi ni Milos Raonic.
“It’s been wonderful playing with some of the best players in the world. When I played with Serena in Kobe, the first match I was a bit nervous. But then we won all our games there, we played really well, I loosened up a bit, and we got off to a great start here in Manila too. I’ve really enjoyed playing with her, and it’s great to have a partner like Serena on your side of the court. In the next few days, I’m looking forward to playing with and against some of the other bigger players … it’s great for me, and a terrific learning for my game,” sabi ni home star Treat Huey. (ANGIE OREDO)
