Dodig carries Indian Aces to big win over Singapore Slammers

MANILA, Philippines -- Croatian Ivan Dodig stepped up his game with Frenchman Gael Monfils sitting out with a hamstring injury as the defending champion Micromax Indian Aces stayed unbeaten in the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) Season 2 beating OUE Singapore Slammers, 27-22, on Friday in the final day of the opening leg at the Kobe World Hall in Kobe City, Japan. 

Dodig took part in all the three sets that the Aces won including the deciding men's singles against Nick Kyrgios. 

With the Aces sneaking from behind to grab the upper hand, 21-19, in the match, the pressure was on Kyrgios to deliver for the Slammers in the men's singles against Dodig, who was playing in his third consecutive set. 

Dodig, however, was up to the task showing no signs of fatigue as he hit five aces on his way to an easy win against Kyrgios, 6-3.

“It was great to win the match today, make it two in a row. The team is in good spirit, we love the bonding, next 3 weeks we will be together, eat together, train together, and we enjoy it. It’s a great competition. I don’t usually play tennis now, but before the IPTL I made sure to practice to be match fit and match ready,” said Santoro, who lost a nerve-wracking and the most entertaining set of the match. 

The packed Kobe World Hall was treated to a classic match-up between Santoro and Carlos Moya in the opening set.  The thrilling Legends singles reached 5-all. Machine Moya won it for the Slammers outwitting Magician Santoro to get the 6-5 victory. 

Boosted by her victory against current world no. 1 Serena Williams the day before, KarolínaPlíšková continued her amazing run in the IPTL with another 6-4 victory against Samantha Stosur that gave the Slammers a 12-9 advantage in the match. 

Then Dodig happened. 

Dodig teamed up with doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna and their tandem worked magically with clever shot making to overpower his French Open partner Marcelo Melo and Dustin Brown, 6-4.

Dodig and Melo won the Mexican Open and the French Open men's doubles titles this year. 

Dodig replaced Bopanna in the mixed doubles play teaming up with Sania Mirza.  The Aces pair put up a clinic winning the set, 6-3, in just 24 minutes against Kyrgios, who substituted for Melo, and Belinda Becic that finally put them on top before Dodig returned to win the men's singles match.