UAE Royals kickstart IPTL with win over Singapore Slammers

The much-awaited International Premier Tennis League got off to a flying start with the Obi UAE Royals notching an impressive and much applauded first victory as the star-studded league made its debut in Kobe on Wednesday.

A packed house at the Kobe World Hall, full of families and children, tennis fans young and old, greeted this exciting and fast-paced format of tennis, with cheers from the crowd growing louder and louder as the match went on.

Ana Ivanovic won the women's singles 6-3 over Belinda Bencic to give the Royals a winning start before the Oue Singapore Slammers secured the only win through Nick Kyrgios, who convincingly defeated Tomas Berdych in the men's singles.

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In the men's doubles, Berdych/Nestor showcased some brilliant shot-making against the equally clever play of Melo/Brown.

Brown, an absolute hit with the fans, returned shot for shot in a closely contested set, with the Royals winning it 6-5.

Mladenovic/Nestor and Goran Ivanisevic showed their class by taking the last two sets, mixed doubles and men's legends singles respectively, with relative ease, giving the Royals a terrific start in season 2 of the IPTL, winning 26 games to 20.