Philippine Mavericks bow to Slammers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Mavericks absorbed its second loss in the New Delhi leg of the International Premier Tennis leg Friday night when they dropped five sets to the Singapore Slammers.

The Mavericks, who were swept by the Indian Aces last Thursday, suffered the same fate against the Slammers, who came out with a 30-22 victory at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

The Slammers, starring Carlos Moya, Belinda Bencic and Nick Kyrgios, won the legends singles, men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles.

Without Serena Williams and Milos Raonic, the Mavericks continued to struggle, and will have to find a solution heading to the last two legs in Dubai on Dec. 14 to 16 and Singapore on Dec. 18 to 20.

Mark Philippoussis, Alja Tomlajanovic, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Fil-American Treat Huey failed to deliver the points for the Mavericks who slipped down the ladder after two days in New Delhi.

In the Manila leg earlier this week, the Mavericks won three matches in three days and moved to second overall, barely behind defending champion Indian Aces.

But the absence of its top two players exacted a heavy toll on the team which had hoped to vie strongly for this year’s title and the $1 million top prize.

Heading to Dubai, the Mavericks now rank fourth among the five teams, behind the Indian Aces, UAE Royals and Singapore Slammers and just ahead of the Japan Warriors.

The Mavericks have now lost three of seven matches, and if things don’t change in Dubai, only a miracle can save them in the final leg in Singapore.

In the other match Friday, the Indian Aces clipped the Japan Warriors, 26-21, to remain on top and serve strong notice of their bid to retain the IPTL crown.

Moya defeated Philippoussis, 6-4; Bencic wore down Tomljanovic, 6-3; Kyrgious edged Roger-Vasselin, 6-5; Kyrgios teamed up with Marcelo Melo to beat Roger-Vasselin and Huey, 6-5; and Dustin Brown partnered with Karolina Pliskova to nip Jarmila Gajdosova and Huey, 6-5.

Playing as of presstime Saturday were the Japan Warriors against the Singapore Slammers, and the Indian Aces against the UAE Royals in what could be a preview of the finals.