Delhi Dreams continued to be a nightmare for the rest of the teams as it notched up its second successive victory, a convincing 27-19 verdict against Mumbai Tennis Masters, late into a cold night at the R.K. Khanna Stadium here on Tuesday.
Even though Mumbai threatened to make a fight of it many times, the Delhi players teased and toyed with the opposition to come out on top.
In the battle of the ‘legends’, both former Roland Garros champions, Sergei Bruguera looked to be playing from memory, but showed excellent touch to pull off deft drops against Juan Carlos Ferrero, though the 43-year-old, at times, looked like a coach putting his ward through drills. The 34-year-old Ferrero eventually returned the compliment, though, closing out the match with a drop of his own.
The mixed doubles was a key contest, and Kevin Anderson rose to the occasion to pull it off with the former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic, even as the spirited approach of Alize Cornet and some sharp net play from Tommy Robredo delighted the spectators.
Delhi had taken a solid lead of 12-4, before Mumbai’s Cornet beat Jankovic to bridge the gap.
This was no surprise for the 24-year-old Frenchwoman, the World No.19, has beaten some of the leading players, including Serena Williams, on the circuit.
However, Delhi further tightened its hold over the match by clinching the men’s doubles, where Sanam Singh stole the thunder, playing alongside Anderson, in beating Tommy Robredo and Sriram Balaji 6-3.
By now, Delhi led 21-13, but the format is such that Mumbai was still in with a fighting chance despite looking out for the count. With Mumbai needing to win the last rubber, Robredo extended the entertainment by beating Anderson in a tie-break.
But, then, all Delhi had to do was to win one game, while Mumbai needed seven, and Anderson duly closed it out.
Of course, it was entertainment, pure and simple, and the spectators who braved the cold seemed to have enjoyed the evening.
The results: Delhi Dreams bt Mumbai Tennis Masters 27-18 [Ferrero bt Bruguera 6-2; Anderson & Jankovic bt Robredo & Cornet 6-2; Jankovic lost to Cornet 3-6; Anderson & Sanam bt Robredo & Sriram Balaji 6-3; Anderson lost to 5-6(3). Super over-time: Anderson bt Robredo 1-0].
