Mirza Leads Aces To Second IPTL Win
Winning 10 doubles titles in 2015 has done nothing to slow down World No.1 Sania Mirza; the trailblazing superstar has only continued to shine during her stint playing the International Premier Tennis League.
Playing for her home team, the Micromax Indian Aces, Mirza won a 6-3 mixed doubles set alongside reigning French Open men’s doubles champion Ivan Dodig, defeating youngsters in Belinda Bencic and Nick Kyrgios. Bencic’s teammate Karolina Pliskova had gotten things off to a bright start for the OUE Singapore Slammers; the powerful Czech edged out 2011 US Open Champion Samantha Stosur, 6-4.
Ultimately, the Aces sealed a second straight victory, 27-22, while the Slammers drop to a 1-2 overall win-loss record.
In the other match of the night, singles No.1 Serena Williams made another IPTL appearance, splitting her two sets for the Philippine Mavericks against the Legendari Japan Warriors. Williams started strong alongside Treat Huey, winning a 6-3 set of mixed doubles against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and Leander Paes.
But it was Kurumi Nara, a former Top 40 player, who upset the American in women’s singles. The 23-year-old Japanesewoman won a 6-4 final set, but it wasn’t enough to take the Warriors over the top, and the Mavericks won 28-24.
Check out some of the best tweets from Day 3 of #IPTL2:
エポック社のブースにて、サーニャ ミルツァ選手のサイン会を行いました! Sania stopped by at the Epoch's booth to sign trading cards for the fans! pic.twitter.com/mlcqwXDEfa
— IPTL (@iptl) December 4, 2015
What a sweet victory it was today. Ivan our man of the match. @IndianAces #IPTL2 #BreakTheCode. #ManilaHereWeCome pic.twitter.com/Ro06NjpXQO
— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) December 4, 2015
Great days with this team #singaporeslammers in Kobe?? #iptl #BreakTheCode pic.twitter.com/xc2ZOPowcY
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) December 4, 2015
Kurumi Nara beats Serena Williams @iptl, Marat Safin is thrilled. @japan_warriors #BreakTheCode pic.twitter.com/W7WjcmE5cS
— LetsTalkTennis (@letstalktennis1) December 4, 2015
Great start to #IPTL2015! See you next year, Japan! #BreakTheCode #Tenfie pic.twitter.com/NZaNbWQjKG
— IPTL (@iptl) December 4, 2015
My Mavs? @iptl @serenawilliams @Ajlatom @richardgasquet1 @milosraonic @M_PHILIPPOUSSIS @TreatHuey @ERogerVasselin pic.twitter.com/ByNuaxl0jz
— Jarmila Gajdosova (@tennis_jarkag) December 4, 2015