It was an exciting moment to see Andy Murray teams up with Maria Sharapova for mixed doubles at the first day of the International Premier Tennis League in the Philippines.
MOA Arena was flocked with fans, supporters and followers to witness for the first time international Tennis players compete here in Manila. It was once in a lifetime experience thus lots of Filipino fans do saved money just to buy tickets for this 3-day event. About the ticket pricing? I must say its a bit pricy!
Despite teaming up, Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova made a losing start on day one over Nenad Zimonjic and Kristina Mlandenovic (4-6).
Each match consists of five sets: men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles, legends’ singles. The team that wins the most games, accumulated from all five sets, wins the match.
For the 2nd game for the first day, UAE Royals wins over Manila Mavericks with 24-29.
UAE Royals (Dubai): Djokovic, Wozniacki, Cilic, Mladenovic, Ivanisevic, Zimonjic, Jaziri
Manila Mavericks: Murray, Tsonga, Flipkens, Nestor, Moya, Sharapova, Huey
Manila Mavericks team chilling.
Sharapova has been one of the crowd favourites here in the Philippines. Whenever a person shouts “I Love you Sharapova” she gets a bit distracted, thus when it happens others sometimes make a “Shhh” sound towards the person. Heres how she raise the roof when she gets to score!
She also signs autographs to lucky fans near the tennis court.
Andy Murray also loss the game over Marin Cilic for Mens Single with 5-6.
The four-team event will takes place first here in Manila, then they will fly to Singapore, Delhi and Dubai, with the final to be held on 13 December.
Heres my obligatory selfie! Last day tomorrow at SM MOA Arena (November 30) and here’s the schedule. Thanks IPTL & Flieshman for the tickets!