Ivanovic blanks Hantuchova as Aces beat Slammers in IPTL opener

MANILA, Philippines – Ana Ivanovic shut down Daniela Hantuchova, 6-0, in what turned out to be the deal breaker as the Indian Aces took a 26-16 victory over Singapore Slammers Friday in the opener of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ivanovic, currently ranked no. 5 in the world, adjusted well to the unique format – which calls for quicker pace – in shutting down Hantuchova.

The 63rd ranked Hantuchova was a little sluggish after playing in the mixed doubled competition earlier.

“I didn’t expect to win that easily. To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about the score. When I was out there, I really tried to play each game and try to enjoy,” Ivanovic said.

It was all the Aces needed to overcome a 14-15 deficit and zoomed ahead, 20-14, with only the men’s singles match left.

Aces’ team captain Gael Monfils followed up Ivanovic’s easy win with a 6-1 shellacking of Lleyton Hewitt to seal their team’s victory, 26-16.

Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza opened the tie with a 6-4 win over Bruno Soares and Hantuchova in the mixed doubles.

In the legends match, Fabrice Santoro came up with great energy buoyed by the crowd and his animated team and beat Pat Rafter in the five-minute shootout, 8-4, to score a 6-5 win that hiked the Aces’ lead to 12-9.

The Slammers avoided a shutout when Nick Kyrgios and Thomas Berdych proved too much for Gaefils and Bopanna in the men’s doubles. Berdych, the world’s no. 7, had a great chemistry on the court with the Australian teenage sensation, as they slammed the off-sync Monfils-Bopanna pair, 6-2.

 The men’s doubles win pushed the Slammers ahead, 15-14, but it proved to be short-lived as Ivanovic and Gaefils turned the tables around in the final two matches.