Manila Mavericks finish with flourish

The Manila Mavericks put together their best game in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) with an emphatic 30-15 rout of DBS Singapore Slammers on Saturday in Dubai.

German Philipp Kohlschreiber, who replaced Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the men’s singles, whipped Thomas Berdych, 6-2, for the Mavericks of team manager and Filipino sports patron Jean Henri Lhuillier.

In the battle of past champions, the Mavericks’ Mark Philippoussis outlasted Patrick Rafter, 6-5.

The Mavericks’ mixed doubles tandem of Kirsten Flipkens and Daniell Nestor also proved too much for Nick Kyrgios and Daniela Hantuchova, 6-1.

Nestor and Kohlschreiber then teamed up to survive Lleyton Hewitt and Bruno Soares, 6-4.

Flipkens capped the Mavericks’ dominant showing, ripping Hantuchova, 6-3, in the women’s singles.

The Indian Aces of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Ana Ivanovic ruled the four-leg mixed tournament.  The Novak Djokovic-led UAE Royals settled for second place, Manila Mavericks third and Singapore Slammers last.