MANILA, Philippines -- World No. 11 Karolína Plíšková stunned world no. 1 Serena Williams while Nick Kyrgios delivered the marginal points as OUE Singapore Slammers pulled the rug from under the Philippine Mavericks, 26-24, on Thursday in Day Two of the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League Season 2 at Kobe World Hall in Kobe, Japan.
Mark Philippoussis picked up from where he left off last season giving the Mavericks a good start in the match with a 6-4 victory over Carlos Moya in the Legends singles. But the 23-year old Plíšková stole the limelight in the fast-paced team tournament with a big 6-4 win over Williams in the women's singles hitting six aces and 11 winners to even the tally.
Richard Gasquet and Edouard Roger-Vasselin restored the lead for the debuting Mavericks in the men's doubles wrapping a up a 6-4 win in 26 minutes against the Slammers' pair of Marcelo Melo and Dustin Brown. Marcelo came back and teamed up with Belinda Bencic to set up the thrilling finale with their own 6-4 romp of Roger-Vasselin and Jarmila Gajdosova in the mixed doubles play.
In what went down as the match decider, Australian Nick Kyrgios sneaked from behind to steal the win from Milos Raonic, 6-4, that gave the win for the Slammers.
"For me, I’m somebody who usually likes to take his time in between points, so it will take a little getting used to, but I’m sure it’ll get better by tomorrow (Friday)," Raonic said in the post-match press conference.
The Slammers will gun for a second straight win against the still unbeaten and defending champion Micromax Indian Aces in the final day of the Japan leg while the Mavericks will try to bounce back against the expansion and home team Legendari Japan Warriors.