Ivanovic gets back at Mladenovic as Aces keep top spot

MANILA, Philippines – Ana Ivanovic got back at her Manila tormentor Kristina Mladenovic with a 6-2 win in the women’s singles that set the tone for Micromax Indian Aces’ sweet sweep of the Musafir.com UAE Royals at the start of the second leg of the inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in Singapore.

Ivanovic made sure there will be no repeat of the 6-4 shocking loss she absorbed at the hands of Mladenovic in Manila as she never trailed in their rematch on Tuesday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The Aces took off from where they left winning all five sets to score the 30-11 win that kept them unbeaten in the tournament.

After Mladenovic tied the set at 1 game apiece with a beautiful double handed backhand, Ivanovic won the next three games to inch comfortably ahead, 4-1. A Happiness Power Point cut Ivanovic’s lead, 4-2, but it was not enough to deny the world no. 5 the payback win.

In the mixed doubles, the veteran pair Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna survived Mladenovic and Nenad Zimonjic to claim the 6-5 victory that was decided by a five-minute shootout.

In the men’s singles, flamboyant Frenchman Gael Monfils dominated US Open champion Marin Cilic, 6-1, while Fabrice Santoro sealed the match with a 6-2 win over struggling Goran Ivanisevic, who was later subbed by Zimonjic due to a hamstring injury.

Monfils, who continued his impressive play and dance moves in between points that entertained the crowd, said that one of the key reasons of their streak is finding the balance between the serious side and entertainment stuff of the tour.

“For me I think it’s good, it’s fun and serious at the same time, and it’s serious because we play four legs, but that’s cool,” Monfils said.

In the non-bearing mixed doubles play, Monfils and Bopanna made a quick work of dispirited Cilic and Zimonjic, 6-1.

The Aces hiked their record to 4-0 (win-loss) as they remained on top with 16 points while the Royals dropped to 4-2 with 11 points to show.