Oldies but goodies: Ivanisevic tops Moya in thriller

MANILA, Philippines — They’re not in the International Premier Tennis League’s Men’s Legends play for nothing.

There was no shortage of surprise and action for on the clash of old-timers during the last day of the IPTL’s Manila stop at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday night.

Goran Ivanisevic of the UAE Royals and Carlos Moya of the Singapore Slammers gave fans a tussle as they head for the New Delhi stop.

The netters, who are no strangers to each other, made the single-phase Legend’s set last for a little more than half an hour, with the Croat veteran pulling off a pulsating win, 6-4.

“It’s great to see all the [old-timers] in great shape,” Ivanisevic noted. “Mark (Philippoussis of the Mavericks), Carlos and myself… Fabrice (Santoro of the Indian Aces) who runs like a maniac.

“It’s a group of pretty interesting old guys. The still play the ball well.”

With Father Time catching up to them, one would easily surmise that Ivanisevic and Moya have already used all up whatever’s left in their tanks.

But it wasn’t the case for these veterans.

Ivanisevic, who fought Moya four times in their career, mounted a stellar showing that kept many in the crowd at the edge of their seats.

Later in the second match, Philippoussis went neck-and-neck with “The Magician” Santoro.

Long rallies. Top-spinned backhanded returns. Sneaky dropshots. The match wasn’t short of any of it.

“It’s great. I already played him [Moya] twice [in the IPTL]. I’ve beat him in Japan. I beat him here,” the 44-year-old Ivanisevic said. “I no longer think about the past days.  I just think about surviving each match. I am the oldest player here. They are all younger than me.”

Ivanisevic, during their active days, won only once against the Spanish Moya. The last time they crossed paths was in Wimbledon in 2001, with the latter securing the lone win. 

The UAE Royal retired in 2004 while the Singapore Slammer, in 2010.

Asked about what kept him playing in such an intense level, Ivanisevic had a simple explanation: “Everyone wants to win.”

“It’s pretty intense… You want to win for your team. Now with the new [IPTL] rules, every game counts,” he added. Now you want to fight even if you lose. You want to win most games possible.”

Ivanisevic added that the latest win was “very important.”

“We had a good start in Japan. But when we came here, they (Indian Aces, Philippine Mavericks) beat us pretty badly,” he also said.

“It was very important for us to get the rhythm and to get back in the standings,” he shared, hoping they could ride on the momentum as the tour heads for New Delhi.

The Royals end their Manila stop with a 1-2 card.