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Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna continued their good form as Indian Aces dished out yet another dominating performance to beat Manila Mavericks 28-23 in the UAE leg of the International Premier Tennis League in Dubai, on Friday.
This was Indian Aces’ second successive victory. It consolidated their position atop of the table with 38 points from 11 matches, of which they won eight and lost three.
The Mavericks suffered their sixth defeat in the tournament and are placed third with 31 points from 11 games.
Facing the Mavericks for the second time in the tournament, the Aces were given a positive start by Fabrice Santoro, who battled a niggling injury, to see off Mark Philippoussis 6-3 in the Legends’ match.
Frenchman Gael Monfils brushed off the disappointment of losing in the last match by beating compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 in the men's singles to give the Indian Aces a healthy 12-5 lead.
Bopanna and Sania then swelled Indian Aces' lead to 18-9 when they prevailed over Daniel Nestor and Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 in the third match of the day, the mixed doubles.
World number five Ana Ivanovic of Serbia then took the match further away from the Mavericks with a 6-3 victory over Kristen Flipkens of Belgium.
Tsonga and Nestor finally posted Manila's only win of the day with a 11-4 victory over Bopanna and Monfils in the men's doubles, the fifth and the last match, but it was too late to have any impact on the tie.