Mavericks topple Warriors, score second IPTL win at home

Ngiting Tagumpay. Serena Williams starred anew for the Philippine Mavericks as the home team trounced the Legendari Japan Warriors 25-21. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines

By Alex Cerado

PASAY--Serena Williams starred anew for the Philippine Mavericks as the home team trounced Legendari Japan Warriors, 25-21, in the penultimate day of the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) at the Mall of Asia Arena Monday.

The 21-time Grand Slam winner won both of her matches in the mixed doubles and women’s single events.

With the Mavericks leading 9-8 after two sets, Williams paired with Milos Raonic in the third match and prevailed over Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 6-4.

The younger Williams later faced Kurumi Nara and made quick work of the Japanese tennister, 6-3. This victory gave the Philippines a 21-15 advantage going into the final game of the night.

In the fifth and last bout, Filipino standout Treat Huey and Edouard Roger-Vasselin battled toe-to-toe with Warriors’ Leander Paes and Herbert but ran out of gas in the end, 4-6.

Mark Philippoussis opened the second day for the Mavericks with an easy 6-2 outing against Thomas Enqvist, a replacement for veteran Marat Safin who suffered from an injury.

Huey, the playing coach for the former Manila Mavericks, was overwhelmed with the support of Filipinos for IPTL.

“It’s been wonderful playing with some of the best players in the world. It’s wonderful to see (Filipino) fans come out and support tennis,” Huey said after their game.

In the second match, Richard Gasquet bowed down to Legendari’s Philip Kohlschreiber, 3-6.

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