Huey flies high on IPTL stint

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-American Treat Huey is flying high and enjoying the rare chance playing alongside world No. 1 Serena Williams and against some of the sport’s biggest names.

Last week in Kobe, Japan, he teamed up with Williams for the Philippine Mavericks, and won in mixed doubles. Then at the MOA Arena last Sunday, they were back together.

But they fell short against Daniel Nestor and Kristina Mladenovic of the UAE Royals, 6-5. Last Monday, he was paired with Edouard Roger-Vasselin, and again lost to Leander Paes and Pierre Herbert of the Japan Warriors in men’s doubles, 6-4.

Others would have frowned losing two matches before the hometown crowd.

Not Huey.

“It’s tough for me that I lost,” he told reporters at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“But the rest of the team had great matches. As long as our team’s winning, I think it’s a good thing. Everybody wants to win but you can’t always do it,” he said.

Huey, a regular fixture in the Philippines Davis Cup team, is hoping for the best in this year’s IPTL, not individually but as team.

“Hopefully we could turn that around. And I’ll win and everybody else wins tomorrow,” said Huey on the eve of the IPTL Manila leg’s final day.

The doubles specialist, now ranked inside the top 30 in the world, is just thankful for the opportunity to be paired with Williams.