IPTL 2016 Results: Friday Tennis Scores, Winners and Latest Japan Schedule
The UAE Royals kicked off the 2016 International Premier Tennis League in fine fashion as they won the tournament opener 29-19 against Singapore Slammers at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan on Friday.
Martina Hingis put in an impressive performance as she beat Kiki Bertens 6-1, while world No. 10 Tomas Berdych downed Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-4.
Meanwhile, home side Japan Warriors were beaten convincingly 30-17 by the Indian Aces as they lost all five sets.
Here are the scores from Friday's opening day of action:
| Goran Ivanisevic | 6-3 | Rainer Schuttler |
| Martina Hingis | 6-1 | Kiki Bertens |
| Tomas Berdych | 6-4 | Nick Kyrgios |
| Nestor/Cuevas | 6-3 | Melo/Baghdatis |
| Nestor/Hingis | 5-8 | Melo/Bertens |
| Kurumi Nara | 2-6 | Kirsten Flipkens |
| Rojer/Jankovic | 5-6 | Bopanna/Mirza |
| Marat Safin | 3-6 | Mark Philippoussis |
| Rojer/Verdasco | 2-6 | Dodig/Lopez |
| Fernando Verdasco | 5-6 | Feliciano Lopez |
For the full tournament schedule, visit IPTLWorld.com.
Friday Recap
Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic opened the action in this year's tournament with a 6-3 win for the UAE against Rainer Schuettler.
He was then followed by Hingis, playing her first singles match since 2015 and just her third since 2007.
World No. 22 Bertens could do little in the face of a fine performance from the 36-year-old Swiss player as Hingis produced some excellent tennis, per Record tennis writer Jose Morgado:
It looked a long way back for the Slammers, and so it proved. Kyrgios—currently suspended by the ATP—put up a good fight in an excellent clash with Berdych, but eventually, the Czech prevailed.
Daniel Nestor and Pablo Cuevas then beat Marcelo Melo and Marcos Baghdatis in the men's doubles before Singapore finally won a set in the mixed doubles.
Hingis and Nestor looked a fairly deadly partnership for the Royals, but Melo and Bertens managed to beat them 8-5 in a shootout, providing some consolation for the Slammers despite their defeat.
There was to be no consolation for the Japan Warriors as they were dispatched in each set despite having home advantage.
Kirsten Flipkens opened up impressively for the Aces as she hit 10 winners in beating Kurumi Nara before the mixed doubles was decided by a shootout, with the Indian outfit prevailing again.
Australian Mark Philippoussis then edged the key points to beat Marat Safin in the legends match, and the Aces again prevailed in the men's doubles.
The final clash between Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco was tight and again decided by a shootout.
Given the Aces' momentum, it was somewhat inevitable that Lopez eventually overcame his compatriot to complete an impressive victory.
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Draft Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Fans React to Simpson Pick 😱")
.jpg?w=600 "McVay's Reaction to Ty Simpson Pick 😅")